A Great Superfood To Add To Your Daily Routine
Generally speaking, when it comes to a new year, a handful of us resolve to make changes to our daily habits in order to be healthier. But let's be honest, most of us really enjoy cooking and eating exceptional food.
Fortunately for you, there's one superfood you probably already have in your pantry and are probably using almost every day! Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been proven time and time again to have drastic health benefits.
Superfoods
Usually, the term' superfood' can be a term that is pretty confusing. It appears that in order to be a superfood, an ingredient must fit certain specifications. However,'superfood' does not really have an exact definition. While marketing and media hype can make the whole category of superfoods seem a bit misunderstood, the term has some validity also.
For the most part, your body wants to be fed fresh, healthy, wholesome food. Just being a little more intentional about incorporating seasonal produce and nutrient-dense ingredients in your routine can have large health payoffs.
While some superfoods have been stamped as miracle cure-alls without real evidence to their case, wholesome foods are essential so as to achieve the Right levels of:
Vitamins
Minerals
Antioxidants
And fatty acids
Realistically, there is no such thing as a miracle food, but there is such thing as a specific lifestyle that features plenty of nutrient-dense foods and as a result supports a very long and healthy life.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is distinct in that extensive research has been put together based on its supposed health benefits. People around the world have been consuming Extra Virgin Olive Oil long before it was understood as a'superfood.' The Mediterranean diet has been praised it, and for great reason.
Individuals in the Mediterranean live longer and are much happier. This has been credited in part to the huge portions of fruits and vegetables, fish, and healthy fats such as nuts and olive oil in their diets.
In addition, Olive Oil's rich flavor and versatility are tremendous reasons to incorporate it in your day to day diet. But, if you need a little more convincing, considerable research has been done to discover the extensive health benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, especially when used to replace other fats such as butter, margarine, and refined oils.
Antioxidants and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
High-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil has high levels of phenolic compounds, an antioxidant which:
Destroys free radicals
Kill cancer cells
And can reduce the risk of heart disease
And increase endurance
Oleocanthal and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This phenolic compound discovered in Extra Virgin Olive Oil is said to be responsible for the burning or tingling sensation which is experienced when tasting a high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
It has anti-inflammatory properties, and as such can have comparable effects to painkillers and fever reducers.
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAS) and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Monounsaturated fats are the form of fatty acids most commonly discovered in nuts and high fatty fruits, such as olives and avocados. These types of fats are central to the Mediterranean lifestyle, and studies have shown that they can increase the fluidity and elasticity of the cell membranes, and at about 75% MUFA content, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a great source.
The MUFAs in 1-2 tablespoons of Olive Oil per day can decrease the risk of heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and color cancer.
Vitamin E and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Each tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil has about 1.9 mg of Vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant that can help protect the body against eye and skin problems and in fact make hair and skin much healthier. In addition, it has also been shown to protect the body from:
Diabetes
Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's
And lung cancer
Vitamin K and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Vitamin K is another fat-soluble vitamin that has its greatest effect on the bloodstream. It is necessary for healthy coagulation and the amount of calcium in the blood. 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil a day will fill 10% of the daily suggested intake of Vitamin K, and can help protect against insulin resistance and a variety of cancers.
The Way to Add More Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Your Diet
So, now what? How do you take advantage of the highest benefits from Extra Virgin Olive Oil? Usually, the experts suggest that the majority of us would be best consuming about 2 tablespoons per day. Though a handful of us have no problem discovering ways to eat more Extra Virgin Olive Oil, here are some seamless ideas to add it to your daily meals and snacks:
Add an extra drizzle to a salad, sandwich, or soup
Use extra virgin olive oil on popcorn
Fry your eggs in it
Dress us store-bought hummus with an extra pour of extra virgin olive oil
Replace butter with Extra Virgin Olive Oil in baking recipes