Is olive oil olive oil?

Rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, olive oil can lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure while stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing inflammation in the body. Sounds good?

However, more than two-thirds of common brands of extra-virgin olive oil (which is the olive oil that possesses less than 1% acidity and has been produced by an initial press of the olive fruit which has gone through the cold pressing process) found in California grocery stores are not what they claim to be, according to a University of California at Davis study.

Instead, the oils were spoiled or made from lower quality olives unfit to be labeled “extra virgin”. Worse, some were outright counterfeits, made from soy, hazelnut, and even fish oils mixed with low grade olive-pomace oil.

In order to get real olive oil, avoid “Light” olive oil at all costs. This is the lowest quality olive oil on the plant. And if you can find oils with the International Olive Oil Council certification, go for them.

In the Davis study, these brands failed to meet extra-virgin olive oil standards:

• Bertolli

• Carapelli

• Colavita

• Filippo Berio

• Mazzola

• Mezzetta

• Newman’s Own

• Pompeian

• Rachel Ray

• Safeway

• Star

• Whole Foods

while the following olive oils met the extra-virgin standards:

• Corto Olive

• California Olive Ranch

• Kirkland Organic

• Lucero (Ascolano)

• McEvoy Ranch Organic

Alternatively, you can use other healthful oils such as Coconut Oil, Red Palm Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Nut oils, Avocado oil, Flax seed oil, Fermented cod liver oil and Ghee.