Confused about Olive Oil......

Question
Hello, I'm very confused about Olive Oil. I know its healthy n all for your body. But I wanna get in a diet to LOOSE weight and CUT DOWN on ALL fats. Olive Oil is a good fat yes, but a tablespoon has a 14 or 15 grams of fat. Eating that amount of fat even if its healthy for your heart and other things, is NOT gonna make me loose weight. I'm STILL consuming FAT. Am I right or wrong. Somebody please help me. :-(

Answer
Hello Mirinda,

    Thank you for your nutrition question.  Yes, olive oil does contain fat but when used in moderation it can also help with weight loss.  In fact, one study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that a Mediterranean-style diet containing olive oil helped with weight loss. In this study, one group limited fat intake to 20% of calories and a second group followed a Mediterranean-style diet with about 35% of calories from fats in olive oil, nuts, and other natural foods. Both diets were very low-calorie (1,200 calories a day), and both groups initially lost weight (11 pounds in six months). But after 18 months, the Mediterranean-style group kept their weight off, while the low-fat group had begun to regain the lost pounds. The Mediterranean-style group reported it was easier to stick with the plan because they didn't feel like they were dieting; they could saut?vegetables, use full-fat salad dressing, and curb cravings between meals by snacking on nuts. Hope this helps.

-George Rapitis, BSc. Nutritionist  

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