Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?Where did you get 555 from? It's 120ish.(Original post by Chronist)
555 calories in just a tablespoon. :O What's the science behind it? -
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?Liquid fat (oil) is a liquid due to the fact that there are many double bonds in the carbon chain. Olive oil is one of the healthiest fats around, besides fish oil. Not all fat is bad. Animals need fat to survive for many functions. Fat tends to have negative connotations due to the fact that many health companies are trying to cut out fats in healthy foods and people are led to the idea that if they stop eating fat, then they'll lose weight. The only type of fat which is bad is the transfats which tend to occur in high proportions in processed foods. Fats such as olive oil, sunflower oil and fish oil have numerous health benefits. Even saturated fat is good in small amounts. The idea that all fats are bad for human health is completely wrong - one of the main reasons for an increase in inflammatory disorders in Britain and the US, such as arthritis is due to the fact that people aren't obtaining enough of the essential omega three fatty-acids, Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid - the main fats found in fish.(Original post by almasy)
Because it's oil...it's pure liquid fat that's why it's so unhealthy...
Sorry for writing in such a way as to sound condescending, I just become very passionate during discussions to do with health and nutrition :PLast edited by tompy123; 21-05-2012 at 20:47. -
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?and how much omega 3 is there in olive oil? (hint very little)(Original post by tompy123)
Liquid fat (oil) is a liquid due to the fact that there are many double bonds in the carbon chain. Olive oil is one of the healthiest fats around, besides fish oil. Not all fat is bad. Animals need fat to survive for many functions. Fat tends to have negative connotations due to the fact that many health companies are trying to cut out fats in healthy foods and people are led to the idea that if they stop eating fat, then they'll lose weight. The only type of fat which is bad is the transfats which tend to occur in high proportions in processed foods. Fats such as olive oil, sunflower oil and fish oil have numerous health benefits. Even saturated fat is good in small amounts. The idea that all fats are bad for human health is completely wrong - one of the main reasons for an increase in inflammatory disorders in Britain and the US, such as arthritis is due to the fact that people aren't obtaining enough of the essential omega three fatty-acids, Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid - the main fats found in fish.
Sorry for writing in such a way as to sound condescending, I just become very passionate during discussions to do with health and nutrition :P
omega 3 and 6 are the only fats the body doesn't produce itself (that's why they're called essential) the things with the highest amounts of omega 3 to total fat counter are fruit and veg and fish, nearly all other fatty things have a much lower proportion of essential fat to total fat or have far more omega 6 than 3 (and that's what causes the problems usually, health issues from lack of fat overall are very rare among people eating enough though of course there are some cases) and as you rightly say, fish oil is one of the best oils due to it's abundance of omega 3 compared to 6 (which does a lot to get the correct ratio of 3 and 6 back (should be around 1:5 at highest, best is 1:2 - 1:3)
but if you have to go to the extremes of eating from the most polluted source of food in the world there's something wrong with your diet.
this is a fat deficient person http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxwvY65LIf...can_hunger.jpg
This isn't http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...t-american.jpg
The only way you can be deficient of fat is in starvation. -
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?dietary fat =/= body fat, moron.(Original post by almasy)
and how much omega 3 is there in olive oil? (hint very little)
omega 3 and 6 are the only fats the body doesn't produce itself (that's why they're called essential) the things with the highest amounts of omega 3 to total fat counter are fruit and veg and fish, nearly all other fatty things have a much lower proportion of essential fat to total fat or have far more omega 6 than 3 (and that's what causes the problems usually, health issues from lack of fat overall are very rare among people eating enough though of course there are some cases) and as you rightly say, fish oil is one of the best oils due to it's abundance of omega 3 compared to 6 (which does a lot to get the correct ratio of 3 and 6 back (should be around 1:5 at highest, best is 1:2 - 1:3)
but if you have to go to the extremes of eating from the most polluted source of food in the world there's something wrong with your diet.
this is a fat deficient person http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxwvY65LIf...can_hunger.jpg
This isn't http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...t-american.jpg
The only way you can be deficient of fat is in starvation.
inb4 the fat u get from meat is subcut fat. -
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?(Original post by almasy)
and how much omega 3 is there in olive oil? (hint very little)
omega 3 and 6 are the only fats the body doesn't produce itself (that's why they're called essential) the things with the highest amounts of omega 3 to total fat counter are fruit and veg and fish, nearly all other fatty things have a much lower proportion of essential fat to total fat or have far more omega 6 than 3 (and that's what causes the problems usually, health issues from lack of fat overall are very rare among people eating enough though of course there are some cases) and as you rightly say, fish oil is one of the best oils due to it's abundance of omega 3 compared to 6 (which does a lot to get the correct ratio of 3 and 6 back (should be around 1:5 at highest, best is 1:2 - 1:3)
but if you have to go to the extremes of eating from the most polluted source of food in the world there's something wrong with your diet.
this is a fat deficient person http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxwvY65LIf...can_hunger.jpg
This isn't http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...t-american.jpg
The only way you can be deficient of fat is in starvation.
Yes, there is virtually no omega 3 in olive oil. I was just trying to make a point about fats in general. However, olive oil's main constituent is oleic acid which is an omega 9 fatty acid. Omega 9's have been known to help restore the natural ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fats in the body. It helps by increasing the amount of eicosanoids produced from omega 3's and decreases the proportion of omega 6 eicosanoids. Olive oil is also high in vitamin E and many anti-oxidants and has been know to help contribute to a long and healthy life. For example, people following the Mediterranean diet tend to consume olive oil as there main source of fat and people on this diet also tend to have very long and healthy lives.
Also, you can easily enough increase your omega 3 intake with highly distilled fish oil supplements.Last edited by tompy123; 21-05-2012 at 23:21. -
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?OP, the reason for olive oil being a calorie dense food, or any oil or fat for that matter, is due to the fact that oil is an energy dense food. The calorie content of a food is a measure of the energy content of that food. Fats contain approximately twice as much energy as carbohydrates and protein. More to the point though, just because olive oil is a calorie dense food, doesn't make it bad for you. Fats are a strange substance, and it appears that people shouldn't be concerned with how much fat they consume, but rather the type of fat they consume i.e. consuming high amounts of saturated fat and trans fats tend to lead to poor health, such as an increased risk of heart disease and a number of other health problems. Trust me when I say this - Olive oil is good, even though it has a high calorie content. Google is packed with articles and scientific studies on the health benefits of olive oil.
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?lol I am not aiming at weight loss but at weight gain so this is good news for me. I shall take 5 olive oil tablespoons every day.(Original post by tompy123)
OP, the reason for olive oil being a calorie dense food, or any oil or fat for that matter, is due to the fact that oil is an energy dense food. The calorie content of a food is a measure of the energy content of that food. Fats contain approximately twice as much energy as carbohydrates and protein. More to the point though, just because olive oil is a calorie dense food, doesn't make it bad for you. Fats are a strange substance, and it appears that people shouldn't be concerned with how much fat they consume, but rather the type of fat they consume i.e. consuming high amounts of saturated fat and trans fats tend to lead to poor health, such as an increased risk of heart disease and a number of other health problems. Trust me when I say this - Olive oil is good, even though it has a high calorie content. Google is packed with articles and scientific studies on the health benefits of olive oil.
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?Strong broscience.(Original post by ninja.slewis)
It is only when olive oil is used in cooking that it becomes unhealthy. Straight from the bottle, in moderation is okay. In Italy it is recommended that you have some everyday with meals.
How is it unhealthy in cooking but healthy straight from the bottle?
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?Maybe you misread the label and 555 is actually the kJ value rather than the kcal value? That would give you roughly the correct number of calories per teaspoon.
In any case, it's high in calories because, y'know, it's oil. Oil is just fat.
Not sure where you got this one from.(Original post by ninja.slewis)
It is only when olive oil is used in cooking that it becomes unhealthy. Straight from the bottle, in moderation is okay. -
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?(Original post by sil3nt_cha0s)
Strong broscience.
How is it unhealthy in cooking but healthy straight from the bottle?
Because the double bonds oxidise quickly. Olive oil is so fragile they use thick, dark glass bottles to protect it from light which can also make it react. It shouldn't be cooked.(Original post by Chumbaniya)
Not sure where you got this one from. -
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Re: Why is olive oil so incredibly high in calories?I'm afraid you're not eating the smoke so you will be fine.(Original post by tooosh)
It's not the fact the oil is cooked but that it's hot. Apparently the smoke given off by olive oil when it's too hot is harmful or something...
