Extra Virgin Olive Oil Health Benefits

We all recognize that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is great for drizzling over salads and creating that perfect bruschetta but not too much is known about the qualities of olive oil on health. It is, unquestionably the very flavoursome, aromatic and healthy of all the olive oils.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is probably the most widely researched foodstuff on the planet and the health benefits are evidence based. Thanks to the current spotlight on the Mediterranean Diet, extensive research has been done on the phytonutrient composition of olive oil. What has been discovered is an extensive list of phytonutrients; a few of the most praised is its polyphenols. The amount of polyphenols found in extra virgin olive oil is truly amazing!

Polyphenols are a potent antioxidant -- just one that can decommission a nasty molecule in your body called free radicals. Free radicals can ricochet around inside your body and harm cells that are good. Antioxidants, such as the polyphenols found in extra virgin olive oil, work to neutralize free radicals; shielding the body from their harmful antics.

In fact the European Food Safety Agency has approved health claims for extra virgin olive oils with polyphenol content of greater than 250mg / kg. Morocco Gold contains polyphenols well above this amount. So here are some of the ways that Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil can improve everyday health and well-being.

Cardiovascular diseases are the best cause of death in the industrialised world. A plethora of studies have documented that arteriosclerosis is closely linked to eating habits and lifestyle.

Olive Oil Has A Great Beneficial Effect on Ulcers and Gastritis

Olive oil lowers the risk of the flow or reflux of food and gastric juice up from the stomach to the oesophagus, the gastric content of the stomach is released more slowly and gradually into the duodenum, providing a greater sensation of"fullness".

Olive Oil Helps Maintain the digestive tract in good health.

Olive oil produces a small amount of secretion by the pancreas, making this organ"operate" little, however efficiently and enough to carry out all its digestive functions. It stimulates the absorption of various nutrients (calcium, Iron, magnesium, etc.).

Extra virgin olive oil, therefore, is a fat that is digested and absorbed really well. It has option properties and a mild laxative effect that helps to combat constipation and bad breath.

Will Help Reduce Blood Pressure

Certain foods can raise blood pressure apart from having an effect on body fat. Along with high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking, obesity and diabetes, it is one of the main health problems of the developed world.

One in every four adults is hypertensive. This increases the risk of early death because of the damage to the body's arteries, especially the arteries that provide blood to the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes. Addition of olive oil to a daily diet has a clear lowering effect on blood pressure. Regular consumption of olive oil decreases both systolic (maximum) and diastolic (minimal ) blood pressure.

Extra virgin olive oil has been scientifically proven to reduce high blood pressure. A survey of the Mediterranean diet demonstrated that utilization of extra virgin olive oil reduced blood pressure in hypertensive or healthy people.

The risk of heart disease especially in the West resulting from high blood pressure ought to be reason enough to proceed to a healthier type of olive oil and much better lifestyle.

Help control healthy cholesterol levels

Cholesterol is a fatty substance contained in foods of animal origin. Diets containing a large amount of animal fats raise blood cholesterol level, which is just one of the chief risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Olive oil lowers the amount of total blood cholesterol, LdL-cholesterol and triglycerides. At the same time it does not alter the levels of HbL-cholesterol (and may even raise them), which plays a protective role and prevents the formation of fatty patches and recurrent heart disease.

Olive oil eases or prevents diabetes

An olive oil rich diet is not only a good alternative in the treatment of diabetes, it may also help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. How it does so is by preventing insulin resistance lowering triglycerides and ensuring greater blood sugar level control and lower blood pressure.

Olive oil lessens the severity of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone tissue mass that increases the risk of fractures. There are two types. Type I occurs in middle-aged, post-menopausal women and type II from the older. Extra Virgin olive oil appears to have a favourable effect on bone calcification, and bone mineralisation is much better the more olive oil is consumed. It helps calcium absorption, thereby playing an important part during the period of development and in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Polyphenols within olive oil as a antioxidant

Phenols and polyphenols serve as the core substances that give Extra Virgin Olive Oil its anti-inflammatory properties.

Researchers have determined that small amounts of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, as low as one tablespoon per day, can lower inflammatory signalling in our body, such as levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).

Extra virgin olive oil as an anti-inflammatory

Importantly, the anti-inflammatory benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil do not depend on large levels of intake. In most research, these benefits become statistically significant with as few as one tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil per day.

Olive Oil and it's fight against cancer

Research studies are providing better and improved documentation for the anti-cancer benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Early studies in this area were largely restricted to research with rats and mice or research on cell cultures in the lab. However, more recent studies have looked at individuals incorporating Extra Virgin Olive Oil into their everyday meal plan and have found encouraging results.