Health and Beauty Benefits of Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar
For quite some time, Olive Oil has proven to have an exceptional use and value to a variety of cultures. The people living in the Mediterranean have know for years the amazing health and beauty benefits of Olive Oil. Not only did they use Olive Oil as a key culinary ingredient, but also as a healing remedy for medical ailments and an ingredient in cosmetics used to beautify the skin.
In fact, the Mediterranean diet isn’t a diet at all. Instead, it’s a way of eating and living a healthy lifestyle. Olive Oil is the main source of fat used in the Mediterranean diet. However, in order to experience healthy results, you need to incorporate more than just Olive Oil into your diet. In addition to everything else, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy products are consumed daily.
The main source of protein comes from poultry, fish, and legumes. Red meat is not eliminated completely, but is consumed in lower amounts. This style of eating will embed the right nutrients, fiber and antioxidants into your diet resulting in a healthier you! Isn’t that just great!?
Olive Oil Health Benefits
There are an assortment of health and beauty benefits of Olive Oil, but the health benefits are sure to make you want to make the switch and start using it in place of butter and your current cooking oil.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes that replacing saturated fats with an equal amount of Olive Oil containing monounsaturated fats (including Omega-3 fatty acids) can actually provide heart health benefits plus much more.
Heart Health
Scientific evidence says that a diet rich in olive oil, such as the Mediterranean diet, may improve the function of your arteries and slow down the aging process of your heart.
In addition, studies have discovered that the polyphenol antioxidants in Extra Virgin Olive Oil increase the elasticity in arterial walls, as a result, also reducing vascular stress and the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, Extra Virgin Olive Oil helps regulate cholesterol levels by promoting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol, and raises HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol.
In order to benefit from the consumption of Olive Oil, it is crucial to use a high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Extra Virgin Olive Oil contains the highest level of antioxidants of any other cooking oil.
The Omega-3 fatty acids combined with the antioxidants found in Olive Oil inhibit inflammation and help fight off cell damaging free radicals that can lead to diseases such as breast cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.
Other incredible health benefits of Olive Oil include:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Preventing constipation
- And helping with the absorption of calcium which may help prevent osteoporosis
Balsamic Vinegar Health Benefits
The health benefits of Balsamic Vinegar are also quite exceptional and should not be overlooked. Balsamic Vinegar is rich in minerals, low in sodium and has no cholesterol. Substitute high calorie salad dressings containing saturated fat for a healthy blend of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to gain the health benefits of both.
Furthermore, Balsamic Vinegar boosts our metabolism and is also known to be an appetite suppressant which can help contribute to weight loss. It aids in digestion by stimulating enzymes that help breakdown proteins so they can be absorbed by our bodies more easily, improving our body’s functioning.
Similar to Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar also has antioxidants containing polyphenols that work to repair damaging free radicals and protect our bodies from diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Benefits of Using Olive Oil for Skin
For years now, Olive Oil has been used as a natural moisturizer. Not only does it make skin feel soft and smooth, but offers healing qualities that regenerate skin cells. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is rich in several vitamins such as vitamin A, D, K, and E, which help our skin fight off damaging free radicals. Cosmetics that contain olive oil can delay aging of the skin and smooth wrinkles by boosting collagen levels.
Furthermore, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a natural emollient that is gentle and compatible with all skin profiles. Even sensitive skin types can benefit from using Olive Oil for skin care. What happens is that the antioxidants in Olive Oil act as a barrier between your skin and the harsh elements in our environment today.
Olive Oil is 100% natural and hypoallergenic, therefore, a good alternative to cosmetics containing parabens, colorants, sodium laureth sulfates, or fragrances that can contribute to skin sensitivities.