The USDA places all fats in the tip of the pyramid, and it advises to use them sparingly. There is one important factor that can help you make sense of the Mediterranean pyramid's placement of olive oil. Not all oils are created equal. Although they all contain about the same number of calories, they are made up of different amounts of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat. Saturated fat is the worst for you.
Olive oil is low in saturated fat and so possesses less of a risk for heart disease.
Although olive oil is better for you than many other oils, do not overuse it. A look at Servings Above the olive oil in the Mediterranean pyramid lies cheese and yogurt. According to the Mediterranean pyramid, you should eat these foods and the foods in the levels below it every day. The USDA, however, recommends a specific daily range of servings for each food group. Critics say that the Mediterranean pyramid's vagueness about serving recommendations is one of its weaknesses.