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The complex flavors of extra virgin olive oil deliver great taste and an excellent nutrient profile that make it an enjoyable part of a healthy diet. From lowering the risk of heart disease to providing an abundant supply of cancer-fighting antioxidants, the health benefits associated with extra virgin olive oil continue growing. Cultures that have olive oil regularly such as those eating a Mediterranean diet are often cited as having some of the very best health in the world.

Dietary advice around fats in the U.S. is changing. In prior decades, Americans were encouraged to consume a low fat diet, however, research has pointed to the dangers of that advice and also to the health benefits of ingesting specific dietary fats. Today, more Americans are heeding the advice to include more health-promoting fats in their diets such as the monounsaturated fat found in extra virgin olive oil.

A Minimally-Processed, Complete Food

Extra virgin olive oil is derived from the unprocessed fruit of the shrub. During processing, the fruit is simply crushed to extract the oil content at a temperature no higher than 86 degrees Fahrenheit, thus preserving both its nutritional benefits and complex flavors.

By contrast, canola, corn, soybean, and vegetable oils have to be chemically-extracted, refined, bleached and deodorized. With its minimal processing, extra virgin olive oil is essentially a fruit juice.

Excellent Fat Profile

Extra virgin olive oil contains uniquely substantial levels of oleic acid, about 75 percent, compared to 60 percent in canola and corn oils. This monounsaturated fat helps reduce overall blood cholesterol levels by lowering LDL (often referred to as"bad") cholesterol levels in the blood whilst maintaining and, even increasing, HDL (often referred to as"good") cholesterol levels.

A diet rich in monounsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, nuts, and seeds, plays a protective role against many diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, obesity, type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

High Antioxidants

One characteristic that puts extra virgin olive oil apart from other oils is its extremely high levels of polyphenols. These chemicals act as antioxidants and protect cells against unwanted inflammation and disease, such as various types of cancer and atherosclerosis. Extra virgin olive oil contains more polyphenols than other olive oils.

High levels of the antioxidant vitamin E in olive oil also protect cells from damaging free radicals. Vitamin E is often recommended to support skin health and reduce aging effects. Another antioxidant in olive oil, oleocanthal, is the same substance found in the drug ibuprofen and is thought to be responsible for the pungent taste in olive oil.

Cooking and Storage for Optimal Nutrition

By keeping extra virgin olive oil in a cool, dark place in a closed container, the large nutrient levels are maintained longer. The fresher the oil, the higher its profile. Extra virgin olive oil should be purchased over 12 to 18 months of its harvest date.

Start looking for the harvest date embedded in the COOC Seal or notated somewhere on the bottle. Once opened, most olive oils must be consumed within 6 months. Because extra virgin olive oil can be safely used in a diverse range of cooking applications, such as sautéing, baking, grilling, or simply drizzling on foods, it should not linger long in your kitchen shelf!

Olive Oil Benefits , is olive oil good for you, one of the most popular ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine. Almost no Spanish, Spanish, Italian or Greek dish is complete with this abundant and flavorsome oil.

It has surely made its mark as a culinary essential, but did you know that olive oil has some deep benefits, the healthy sort of benefits?

Many of the indicators of olive oil uses, good health in people from the Mediterranean area are actually attributed to the high volume consumption of olive oil.

Before we get into exactly what it is about olive oil that makes it so healthy, is olive oil healthy let us dig into what makes good olive oil great.

Top 5 Olive Oil Health Benefits

Full of Healthy Fats

Olive oil is an abundant source of monounsaturated fats. Specifically the fatty acid lipoic acid.

This fatty acid has many profound benefits for human health.

For example, oleic acid has been proven to help boost natural testosterone production in males by nourishing the Leydig cells from the male testes.

These cells are responsible for testosterone production, which as you know, is essential to male reproductive and general health.

Oleic acid and the healthy fat component of olive oil has many other benefits that we'll reveal as we proceed, is olive oil good for skin.

Chief among these is its antioxidant properties.

Olive Oil Is Abundant in Antioxidants

Olive oil is rich in polyphenols, a type of plant chemical with powerful antioxidant properties.

Why are antioxidants important you say?

Well, antioxidants help limit the risk of damage to your cells from unstable molecules called free radicals.

We are exposed to these constantly through our diet and environment.

Antioxidants simply work to clean these out of your system, thereby limiting cellular damage.

This has the added benefit of slowing down the symptoms of aging, a potential reason why people from the Mediterranean region, where olive oil is widely absorbed, seem to age relatively gracefully.

Olive Oil Has Great Anti-inflammatory Qualities

The anti-inflammatory qualities of olive oil are also because of the oleic acid and polyphenol existence.

One key anti-inflammatory chemical is oleocanthal, which is said to provide anti-inflammatory benefits on par with pharma-grade non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen.

Inflammation is a natural response when disease or injury is detected by the entire body, but when protracted, it can lead to irritation and complications.

Regulates Blood Sugar

Olive oil has also been proven to assist in the regulation of blood glucose sugar levels.

It is a powerful proponent in boosting insulin sensitivity and assisting your cells accept sugar as glycogen for storage readily.

This activity has a profound benefit in preventing or managing type two diabetes and its associated complications.

Healthy For The Heart.

Just as olive oil is healthy for your blood sugar levels, it is also healthy for your heart.

The abundance of monounsaturated fat means that cholesterol levels are likely to tip more towards a higher concentration of good HDL cholesterol and less bad LDL cholesterol.

This is the way you want things to go because it restricts the risk of LDL plaque build-up.

Plaque in the arteries leads to a general increase in blood pressure that can lead to chronic hypertension.

Overtime. Complete blockages can occur, leading to the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Olive oil also can help stave off these risk factors by stimulating the release of nitric oxide oxide, a chemical that stimulates vasodilation, leading to a lowering of blood pressure.

Olive oil is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. Yes, FATS are good for you! I keep a jar of olive oil on my kitchen counter as I am constantly adding to it into foods. I use it on salads and as my staple oil for cooking vegetables etc..

Here are just a few reasons why you should eat olive oil each day. Make sure you look at the ingredients before you buy, and pick up a quality, unrefined extra virgin olive oil to get the most health benefits!

WHY You Ought to BE EATING OLIVE OIL EVERY DAY

Olive Oil is loaded with antioxidants and has high amounts of vitamin E and K. Vitamin E helps maintain the immune system strong and is important for vision, and the health of your blood, brain and skin. Vitamin K helps in regulating blood and bone density.

It is high in monounsaturated fats, a type of fat also found in avocados and some nuts. Monounsaturated fats, such as that found in olive oil, are liquid at room temperature, but harden when chilled.

It helps fight inflammation, due to the antioxidant content and existence of oleic acid (the main fatty acid in olive oil). Add extra-virgin olive oil into your food every day to help reduce inflammation in the body.

Olive Oil promotes a healthy heart. The monounsaturated fats from olive oil help maintain your good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL), reducing high blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. Heart disease is the among the most frequent causes of death in the world, so add a little olive oil to your diet!

It keeps your skin glowing. Olive oil has an abundance of both vitamin E and antioxidants, which are both beneficial in anti-aging prevention. Try also using olive oil as a moisturizing, cleansing treatment on your hair and scalp!