Olea europaea · Olive family (Oleaceae)
Hi, I'm Olive! My little fruits make the golden oil on your salad.
Using olive oil in a healthy Mediterranean diet may help keep the heart healthy.
🟡 Scientists think so
Olive oil has healthy fat and vitamins Helpers in food that your body needs a little of every day to work well. E. A little goes a long way!
🟢 Scientists are sure
People who use olive oil often seem to get diabetes less. Scientists see a link, but it is not proof.
🟡 Scientists think so
For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
Olive oil and olives are great family foods. Watch out for olive pits — they can break teeth or make little kids choke.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Olive leaf medicines that make you pee more are only for some grown-ups, with a doctor's OK.
👀 Be careful
Olive oil is healthy, but it is full of energy. Use a little, not the whole bottle!
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
The olive tree has silver-green leaves and can live for hundreds of years. Its small fruits are olives. People press olives to make olive oil.
Olives are very bitter straight from the tree, so people soak them in water and salt before eating. In Morocco, olives and olive oil are on the table almost every day.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
Some olive trees are more than 1,000 years old and still give olives!
Green and black olives can come from the same tree. Black olives are just riper.
An olive branch is a symbol of peace all over the world.
💡 Raw olives from the tree are too bitter to eat. They must be soaked in water and salt first.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
Where do black olives come from?
Olives turn from green to black as they ripen on the tree.
What is an olive branch a symbol of?
All over the world, the olive branch means peace.
Why do people soak olives in salty water?
Fresh olives are very bitter; soaking makes them tasty.
🏅 You earned the Olive badge!
Almost! Read the page again and retry — you can do it! 💪
Print it, cut it out and collect them all!
Olea europaea
Heart & blood vessels
Vitamins & good food
Blood sugar
🤩 Some olive trees are more than 1,000 years old and still give olives!
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Heart & blood vessels | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | In the PREDIMED randomised trial of people at high cardiovascular risk, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil lowered major cardiovascular events compared with a control diet (hazard ratio 0.69)[2]. In prospective studies, each extra 25 g a day of olive oil was associated with 16% lower cardiovascular risk and lower type 2 diabetes and all-cause mortality, but not cancer[3]. |
| Vitamins & good food | 🟢 Strong evidence (several good human trials) | Per 100 g, olive oil provides 884 kcal, 100 g fat, 14.4 mg vitamin E and 60 µg vitamin K[1] — about 120 kcal per tablespoon, so portions matter. |
| Blood sugar | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | In a meta-analysis of prospective studies, higher olive oil intake was associated with a 22% lower risk of type 2 diabetes per 25 g a day[3]. Observational data cannot prove cause and effect. |
| Energy | 884 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 100 g |
| Vitamin E | 14.4 mg |
| Vitamin K | 60.2 µg |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages
Trees & tree leaves
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
On skin & body
Home & garden
Fun facts
