When you get started researching information about different fats and their role in your diet, you will find quite a bit of conflicting information. But, almost everybody can agree that olive oil -- especially extra virgin olive oil is a substance that is actually good for you.
That's great news because that means that you can scatter it on your salad and use it to fry your chicken, without the guilt. Read on to discover the top five health benefits of olive oil that you probably did not already know.
Extra virgin olive oil is a favorite for many recipes because it is a nutritious ingredient. In addition to being a good fatty acid, it is also full of small amounts of both vitamins K and E. However, what is much better is that olive oil is full of antioxidants.
These antioxidants are able to help fight off severe diseases and cases of inflammation. Antioxidants also help prevent the cholesterol present in your blood from getting oxidized, which in turn helps prevent heart disease.
Many experts think that a leading driver of a number of diseases is chronic inflammation. This includes serious diseases, such as Alzheimer's, obesity, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, metabolic syndrome and even cardiovascular disease.
Olive oil has been proven to help reduce cases of inflammation. In fact, there are some studies that show that the antioxidants in olive oil can interfere with some of the proteins and genes that cause inflammation, begin with.
The most usual cause of death in the entire world is heart disease. However, it is a rare event in the Mediterranean Sea region. When curiosity within this peaked, folks began extensively researching this diet.
What they found was that the key ingredient of the Mediterranean diet is extra virgin olive oil. Once consumed, it helps lower your blood pressure and protects against oxidation of LDL particles, which will help prevent heart disease.
This is considered the most common neurodegenerative disease in the entire world. A key feature of this disorder is the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque within brain cells. In mice, a research has shown that olive oil helps to eliminate this plaque from brain cells.
Even though this is not scientifically confirmed, it is thought that olive oil may help to prevent Alzheimer's.
This condition is characterized by painful and deformed joints. According to research, olive oil may help inflammatory markers while decreasing the oxidative stress in people suffering from this condition. It has proven to be especially beneficial when it is combined with fish oil.
There are so many benefits of olive oil for the health that many experts in nutrition and dietetics haven't doubted in describing this food substance as the 'Mediterranean miracle'. This might look like an exaggeration but it isn't.
Olive oil is the foodstuff at the very centre of the Mediterranean diet. And the Mediterranean Diet is regarded as the healthiest way of eating in the world. There is not any doubt at all about this instant claim either.
Here, in our blog, we have already spoken about the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. You can read about it here. Nonetheless, in this post, we are likely to deal specifically using the benefits of olive oil for your health. So, let us begin.
However, before we start, we must insist that we are speaking about the real juice of the olive and because of that, of a very natural foodstuff. It is what we get after pressing the olive picked from the tree.
Although we cannot deny the fact that the hand of man and the newest technology used at Masía El Altet also play their part in achieving a item that can boast a high level of aroma and flavour.
However, what does olive oil contain that makes it so beneficial for your health? Here some of the matters:
Benefits of olive oil for your health and in the fight against cancer
There are many studies which speak openly about the benefits of oil for your health in the fight against cancer. And to be more precise, extra virgin olive oil is advocated in the fight against colon, skin and breast cancer.
To avoid contracting this type of disease, a healthy diet is advisable using the main source of fat being olive oil. That is to say, that the fat should be natural as is the foodstuff itself. In that way, the amount of cases of cancer will be reduced noticeably.
This very beneficial effect has much to do with the lactic acid it contains, the antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids.
If we believe the skin and nothing more, we can claim that one of the sources of the creation of squalene is olive oil, and that that very substance is quite beneficial. It is also much used in the cosmetic industry. If you are interested in knowing more about squalene, you can click onto this link.
Take this figure published in a scientific research from the magazine Diabetes Care: Olive oil is capable of decreasing Type 2 Diabetes by half. The reason for this is the presence within this foodstuff of monounsaturated fats, similar to those found in seeds and nuts.
A diet containing olive oil as its main foodstuff, accompanied by carbohydrates, fruit, vegetables and pulses is the best way of reducing the incidence of this type of diabetes. If a diabetic follows this type of diet, it is demonstrated that blood sugar levels are far better regulated.
If virgin olive oil is absorbed daily, amounts of calcium, phosphorous and nitrates in bloodare increased significantly. And what is the outcome? Bones are strengthened and the appearance of osteoporosis is preempted.
A characteristic of osteoporosis is a weakening of the bones. It literally means porous bones. It is usually known as brittle bone disease. And if the bones are weak or fragile, there is a greater risk of fracture of the spine, wrists or hip.
Blood pressure. Studies indicate that an intake of just 3 spoonfuls of virgin olive oil each day is sufficient to regulate blood pressure. Three spoonfuls is also the suggested intake for all types of people.
Control of cholesterol amounts . It is also widely demonstrated that the natural juice of the olive, this liquid gold called olive oil is capable of increasing levels of good cholesterol and decreasing the amount of bad cholesterol. This is also due to the monunsaturated fats that it contains.
In the fight against depression. Daily consumption can reduce the risk of suffering depression up to 50%, as has been shown in some research.
All specialists coincide in pointing out that one of the great differences between the good health of the inhabitants of Mediterranean nations and that of those from northern and central Europe is that in the first class, olive oil is consumed whilst in the next, butter is used, above all in cooking. This is a fat that is significantly more harmful for health.
Between 2 and three spoonfuls of olive oil can be sufficient to preempt many diseasesas we have observed above. Fortunately, in nations such as Spain and also in Greece and Italy, virgin olive oil forms part of the culture itself and its own ingestion is common practice.
In summary, the benefits of oil for your health are many. It is obviously a fantastic weapon -- and a natural one -- to fight against many kinds of cancer. But not just that, it is also a powerful ally in the fight agains diabetes and osteoporosis.
Its elements avoid an imbalance in blood pressure and help eliminate bad cholesterol while at the same period, increasing the level of good cholesterol. It is well known that cholesterol is just one of the greatest evils in present-day society. However, you have already seen how easy it is to fight agains it with a couple of spoonfuls of olive oil.
Are you really aware of all the benefits of olive oil for your health? Do you use it? Do you use it or other fats for cooking? Tell us in the comments section.
And if you've liked this post, we'd be delighted if you shared it with friends and family. In that way, everyone will become aware of the great benefits of olive oil for their health.
Olive Oil has been found to be effective in fighting against
The higher the quality EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) the higher the polyphenol content. Polyphenols are key antioxidants.
Various studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil has more polyphenols than other olive oils that are processed. Olive Oils should always be kept in dark bottles to retain the benefits.
Be cautious of where you are purchasing your Oil's and Vinegars as a large part of Oils sold in the supermarkets claim to be EVOO but In fact are over processed and often have no health benefits.
Our Balsamic Vinegars come from Modena, Italy and have been aged for 12 years to ensure quality and provide a rich and aromatic taste. The benefits of ingesting Balsamic Vinegars Include:
