In 2004 the Food and Drug Administration approved a health claim petition submitted by the North American Olive Oil Association. The FDA confirmed the relationship between the consumption of olive oil and reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
To reap the heart benefits of olive oil, the FDA suggests:
eating about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil.
The FDA recomends that the 2 tablespoons of olive oil replace other fats in your diet such as butter or other saturated fats.
Of note is the fact that the health benefits of olive oil approved by the FDA apply to all olive oils including virgin olive oil, blends of virgin olive oil, and refined olive oil in addition to extra virgin olive oil.
Here are a few recipes to make it easy to get your 2 tablespoons a day!