Fat has been billed as the source of all our weight woes, and while this may be true for people who eat too much fat, we do need it in our diet to maintain optimum health.

Our policy should be to maintain a balanced diet based on the food pyramid, which includes a small amount of...gasp! Oils and fats. So use the very best oil you can get our hands on - olive oil!

This wonderful, golden liquid is worshipped like a fine wine and in some cases is more expensive than a good red.

Olive oil has many health benefits. It can increase the good cholesterol levels in your blood because it's a monounsaturated fat - fancy science-speak meaning 'contains less hydrogen atoms'.
But the more hydrogen, the more saturated the fat. Stiff fats like margarine are saturated and these fats can raise the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood, and we all know where that can lead!

Olive oil is an antioxidant, and recent studies show that it may prevent bowel and breast cancers. Plus it looks and tastes divine. Oils can be a pale yellow or green in color - the deeper the color, the stronger the flavor. Dietitians recommend using olive oil on your bread instead of margarine. Olive oil comes in many different varieties and it's worth knowing what to buy. Look for olive oil with cold pressed on the label. This means the olives have literally been pressed to extract the oil, rather than chemical extraction. The top of the range is extra virgin. This is from the first pressing and is very fruity oil. Great for salads or dipping fresh, crusty bread into.

At the other end of the scale is light olive oil. Contrary to popular myth, this does not refer to the fat content, but the light flavor and color. It's mainly used for roasting and cooking.
There are many varieties and some oils can be quite expensive, but you only need to use a little. It doesn't keep for long either, so buy the smallest bottle you can use.

Some women swear by olive oil as a moisturizer. It's also used to treat dandruff by rubbing it into the scalp. In Olden Days, olive oil was mixed in with centipede legs - 200 to be exact – plus a piece of snakeskin and some herbs to ward off paralysis! And of course the olive branch is also a symbol of peace and regeneration.