Olive oil, a key ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, has been touted as the panacea in the fight against heart disease, and demand for some types of oil is starting to rival that of a fine bottle of wine.

Besides being high in healthy monounsaturated fats, a report in the February issue of Archives of Neurology says that olive oil is one of those good fats that may even protect the brain.

Bob Bauer, President of the North American Olive Oil Association, says the significant growth in the consumption of olive oil usage is not a fluke. In 2011, 599 million pounds of olive oil were imported, compared to the just 64 million pounds imported in 1982.
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