Some scientists suggest that cooking with olive oil is harmful to your health because the oil is said to produce toxic chemicals when heated.

They suggest that the benefits that can be extracted from olive oil completely disappear once the oil is heated.

The process of heating the oil makes them become carcinogenic which can increase the risk of developing cancer.

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Is olive oil really harmful?

However according to Oprah.com, this only happens when you heat the oil to 210 degrees. To fry vegetables, you need only heat the oil to 149 degrees.

The "toxins" produced by olive oil aren't necessarily harmful as the body is already predisposed to dealing with them.

Virgin and extra-virgin olive oils also contain antioxidants which help resist oxidation as the oil is heated.

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Should you continue to use olive oil?

Olive oil is a a mixture of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids.

It is highly recommended by health experts because of is its high percentage of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that helps protect the heart and in some research seems to lower cancer risk.

Compared to the more common vegetable oils and fats- olive oil is a much healthier substitute.