Oleic Acid

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found naturally in various animal and vegetable products. It is considered as one of the healthier sources of fat in the diet. It has been shown to slow the development of heart disease, and promotes the production of antioxidants.

As a replacement for other saturated fats, it can lower total cholesterol level and raise levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) while lowering low-density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as the "bad" cholesterol.

One of the chief sources of oleic acid in foods is olive oil. Canola and grapeseed oil are also excellent choices since they are naturally high in this fat. In addition to being used as cooking oil, oleic acid is part of a number of products. It is often used to make soap and is present in a number of cosmetics.