4 Vital Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Contrary to the popular fitness trends that tend to place dietary fat in a negative category, Olive Oil has been incorporated into diets for thousands and is considered one of the few fat sources that's considered healthy.

Olive Oil is more than a pantry staple. It can be used for cooking, salad dressings and many other culinary purposes.

So what is olive oil?

Olive Oil is the natural oil that is extracted from olives. Olives can be processed in a variety of ways to obtain this oil. This determines whether or not the final product will be considered refined.

The least processed form of Olive Oil is Unrefined Olive Oil. It's also known as Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). This allows Olive Oil to retain high levels of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities. The final product will have a darker appearance and a stronger flavor profile.

The refined olive oil is more refined and can be mixed with other oils from different areas to obtain the final product. Extra processing results in an oil with a lighter appearance but little or no flavor.

Even though both types of Olive Oil can be considered healthy, Extra Virgin Olive Oil has the greatest benefits.

Four Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Olive Oil has a high concentration of antioxidants

These substances are well-known for their anti-free radical properties. Antioxidants, for example, prevent the oxidation and lower blood cholesterol. Both of these are risk factors for heart disease.

Antioxidants are known to be beneficial for heart health and can also help prevent other diseases. Researchers believe that Olive Oil could help prevent atherosclerosis and even cancer. This is due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial properties.

Olive Oil is a great weight loss aid

A few weight loss programs currently in existence encourage people to avoid high-fat foods. This is not true. Olive Oil has been proven to be effective in weight loss in controlled studies.

The participants ate a diet high in olive oil over the course of the 3-year study and experienced a variety of benefits, including a decreased risk of weight gain.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil can be a great addition to your diet. Fats are the most macronutrients. They have the highest amount of calories per gram, and they also take longer to digest. These factors can make you feel fuller for longer periods of time and reduce your cravings for junk food and snacks.

Monounsaturated Fats and Inflammation

Olive Oil is high in oleic acids, which is a healthy monounsaturated oil that has been proven to reduce inflammation. Although inflammation is an inevitable response to stress, chronic inflammation can lead to a host of diseases.

Olive Oil's high level of oleic acids may also have positive effects on the cancer-causing genes. Further research has shown promising results in relation to breast cancer, specifically.

Cancer Fighting Properties

Dietary precautions are one of the best ways to avoid cancer, as it is the number one cause of death worldwide. Researchers believe that the Mediterranean region has lower rates of certain cancers than other regions. This could be due to their high consumption of Olive Oil.

Olive Oil's antioxidants not only prevent inflammation but also decrease cellular proliferation, which is thought to be the main cause of cancer.