Olive Oyl, Popeye's sweetheart, first appeared in 1919 in a comic strip called "Thimble Theater." Ten years later, the strip was renamed "Popeye."

That makes Ms. Oyl 103 years old — a wonderful testimony to the life-extending benefits of her namesake.

And now, a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals just how powerfully olive oil protects you from a whole range of health woes.

Looking at data on more than 92,000 men and women over a period of 28 years, the researchers found that "replacement of margarine, butter, mayonnaise, and dairy fat with olive oil was associated with lower risk for total and cause-specific mortality."

Furthermore, a diet that includes approximately half a tablespoon of olive oil daily may cut risk of cardiovascular death and all-cause death by 19%; death from cancer by 17%; from neurodegenerative disease by 29%; and from respiratory disease by 18%.

That means it’s time to make your tuna sandwich with olive oil instead of mayo; to drizzle extra-virgin olive oil on your bagel and lox (add some chopped basil, too) or your baked potato; to switch to non-dairy cheeses; and to saute and bake with olive oil instead of other fats.

For a great selection of recipes using olive oil, check out my "What to Eat When Cookbook."