What are the different types of olive oil ..

You can get confused between the different types of olive oil, so when you go to a store to get a bottle of olive oil, you will see a variety of types and colors and would certainly want more details. Here is an explanation of some of the typical varieties you might find.

Olive oils do not differ in the types or amount of fats they contain — all are pressed from tree-ripened olives. The differences lie mainly in the taste, aroma, and concentration of nutrients. Here's the breakdown:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil — This is the oil we recommend. It comes from the first pressing of the olives, so it's the least refined and therefore has the highest level of antioxidants. It's also the highest quality, most flavorful olive oil, with the lowest acid content.

Virgin Olive Oil — This comes from the second pressing of the olives and has an acidity of between one and three percent.

Light and Extra-light Olive Oil — This is simply a designation used by companies to market a less flavorful, more acidic type of oil. The term "light" means lighter in color and fragrance, not less fat or calories. These oils are generally between 90 and 95 percent refined olive oil and 5 to 10 percent virgin olive oil. They have had their color, taste, and fragrance removed by the refining process (using a chemical, usually hexane, and steam). This process also destroys the phytochemicals and antioxidants in the oil.