Olive oil: A healthy choice for your heart

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new qualified health claim for olive oil based on research that indicated consuming about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil a day may reduce the risk of heart disease. A qualified health claim is one for which there is limited but inconclusive scientific evidence.

Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, which can lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol in your blood. According to the FDA, you get the most of these benefits by substituting olive oil for saturated fats, such as in butter, rather than just adding more olive oil to your diet.

Olive oil products now may include this qualified health claim in their labeling. In order to display this claim, one serving of the food must contain a minimum of 6 grams of olive oil.