The health benefits of olive oil are likely derived from its polyphenols, such as oolecanthol, hydroxytyrosol, and oleuropein.

“So this doesn't seem like the benefits are coming from just olive oil or oleic acid, which is the omega 9 monounsaturated fat that is prominent in olive oil, but also found in tallow and butter and other things. The benefits are probably from the polyphenols in olive oil. And there are polyphenols in fruit. There's polyphenols all over the place in nature. But olive oil has some unique polyphenols. These include oolacanthol, hydroxyrosol and derivatives and a polyphenol called olarapine.”