Olive Oils 101 History Of Olive Oils Extraction Process Types of Olive Oil Health Benefits Olive Oil Tasting Identifying Quality Olive Oil Health Benefits Get the facts about fats and learn how olive oil can be part of a healthy diet. Types of Fats in Olive Oil Fats are a vital part of any diet. From supporting the absorption of vitamins to keeping your brain functioning well, you need fats to stay healthy. But not all fats are created equal and you need more of certain fats than others. A key component of olive oil is monounsaturated fats, mainly oleic acid. Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil. To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil should replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day.