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Olive oil has been used medicinally for centuries. In Ancient Greece, Hippocrates called olive oil "the great healer" and prescribed olive oil for various general ailments. Now, modern scientific and technological advancements have allowed researchers to understand exactly what health benefits you can expect by consuming olive oil daily.

We've compiled the most persuasive studies that link olive oil intake to specific health conditions so you can learn how to improve your health, and what to look for when purchasing olive oil for these functions.

Improve brain function

Simply switching to higher-quality oil sources can have a protective effect on brain health, even at doses as low as two tablespoons a day. Researchers found that older study participants that completely replaced all the various vegetable oils in their diet (such as safflower, canola or low-quality olive oil) to high-quality extra virgin olive oil had enhanced cognitive function just one year later1. Similarly, mice fed with EVOO for six months displayed less Alzheimer's disease-causing protein aggregates in their brain, resulting in improved memory and cognitive function2.

Combat diabetes

Incorporating high-phenolic EVOO into your daily routine may represent an effective procedure to defend against diabetes. Earlier this year, researchers found that olive oils high in phenolic compounds can be used for the maintenance of diabetes3. They extracted the medically active phenolic compounds from high-quality olive oil and found that these EVOO extracts were more effective at inhibiting diabetes-related enzymes than Acarbose, a common drug prescribed to diabetics.

Control inflammation

High-quality EVOO has a repertoire of medically-active compounds that keep inflammation in check and protect against developing chronic inflammatory diseases. Various phenolic compounds, such as oleuropein, oleocanthal and hydroxytyrosol, and triterpenic compounds, such as oleanolic acid and maslinic acid, have been credited with the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties of medicinal EVOO. In fact, a recent human study demonstrated the importance of consuming olive oil that is high in both phenols and triterpenes for reducing inflammation and DNA oxidation4.

Fend off cancer

Regular EVOO consumption has been linked to decreased risk of developing cancer5. In fact, people in the Mediterranean basin have decreased rates of cancer and decreased cancer mortality6, possibly because of higher EVOO consumption than the rest of the world. Studies have linked the polyphenols found in EVOO to its cancer-fighting abilities; these polyphenols can kill cancer cells, but not non-cancerous cells7, eliminating many of the side effects found with classic chemotherapies, and can reverse acquired resistance to standard-of-care breast cancer treatments8.

Boost heart health

Supplementing your diet with high-phenolic olive oil has been shown to improve your cardiovascular health. High-phenolic olive oil, but not low-phenolic olive oil, has been shown to improve both blood pressure and endothelial function9. And just three weeks of consuming two tablespoons a day of high-phenolic olive oil enhanced cholesterol levels, whereas low-phenolic olive oil consumption actually worsened cholesterol levels10. The negative effect of low-phenolic olive oil strengthens the importance of using high-quality EVOO.

Olive oil is an essential part of the healthy Mediterranean diet and it tastes extremely delicious on salads, in pasta and on fish.

Olive oil, more than anything, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, has long been known for its handful of health benefits, and is even said to be the hidden secret to the longer life expectancies of the Mediterranean population. For these reasons and many more, It is no wonder it has a variety of health benefits.

Here are seven exceptional health benefits from Olive Oil which can help you to lead a fuller, healthier life.

Olive Oil Contains Good Fats, Great For Heart Health

The main type of fat found in olive oil is monounsaturated fat (MUFA). MUFAs have been found to reduce your total cholesterol and LDL (the bad) cholesterol levels, and may also help normalise blood clotting.

Reducing your LDL cholesterol means your arteries won't be as clogged, leading to a lower risk of heart disease and strokes. Replacing butter and margarine with products containing oil, such as Bertolli with butter, will help increase your intake of MUFA.

Olive Oil Is Jammed with Antioxidants

Olive oil contains vitamin E, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, all of which are powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants are said to help lower the creation of damaging free radicals in the body.

Free radicals are groups of atoms with an odd number of electrons that attach to healthy cells and start a negative chain reaction, and can injure blood vessels, damage DNA and create changes in genes that can lead to cancer.

Olive Oil Can Help Prevent High Blood Pressure

Just as MUFAs can look after the health of your heart, monounsaturated fats found in olive oil also contain high amounts of an essential fatty acid (EFA) called omega-3. Omega-3 and MUFAs have been shown to keep your heart healthy by helping to lower blood pressure. It is called an EFA because the body cannot make it by itself and therefore we must get it from food sources.

Olive Oil Will Assist In Preventing You From Depression

According to recent research, olive oil might have emotional, as well as physical health benefits. The University of Navarra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria conducted a study that included over 12,000 individuals and found that a diet with a higher intake of olive oil and polyunsaturated fats was associated with a lower risk of mental illness.

Early findings suggest cardiovascular disease and depression may share common procedures related to diet, but studies are still being conducted.

Olive Oil May Play An Essential Role In Preventing Osteoporosis

There is increasing evidence that olive oil intake may help enhance the amount calcium from the blood, which can have a beneficial effect on bone density, so it may therefore help prevent osteoporosis from developing.

Olive Oil Can Help Lower the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Initial studies have demonstrated that an olive oil extract (oleocanthal) may help protect you from the risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline, that can often come with aging. More research is needed in that area, but olive oil is also likely to be part of a Mediterranean diet (which also tends to be high in veg, fruit and fish) and there is some evidence that this diet can lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease too.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Reduces Inflammation

Extra-virgin olive oil has been found to mimic the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, helping conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The compound oleocanthal can inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes -- as well as the risk of Alzheimer's.

When studied in relation to rheumatoid arthritis, researchers found the compound had a significant impact on both chronic inflammation and acute inflammatory processes, and they consider 3.5 tablespoon dose is equal to a 200mg tablet of ibuprofen.

The health benefits of olive oil are unrivaled, and research reveals more benefits nearly every day. In fact, we are only just beginning to understand the countless ways olive oil can improve our health, and our own lives. Olive oil is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet -- an essential nutritional mainstay for the world's longest-living cultures.

Some Diseases Olive Oil Has Been Found To Be Effective Against:

Heart Disease & Olive Oil

Olive oil lowers the levels of total blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. At the same time, it does not alter the degree of HDL-cholesterol (and may even raise them), which plays a protective role and prevents the formation of fatty patches, thus stimulating the elimination of the low-density lipoproteins.

Cancer & Olive Oil

The phytonutrient in olive oil, oleocanthal, mimics the effect of ibuprofen in reducing inflammation, which can decrease the risk of breast cancer and its recurrence.

Oleocanthal reduces cancer causing inflammation found in diets full of sugar, fried and processed foods, alcohol, and toxins such as cigarette smoke. Squalene and lignans are among the other olive oil components being studied for their possible effects on cancer. The antioxidant properties also help counter oxidation from the sun helping to prevent malignant melanoma.

Strokes & Olive Oil

A study in France sowed people who cooked with and consumed olive oil had a 41 percent lower risk of stroke compared to people who didn't.

High Cholesterol & Olive Oil

Just two (2) tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day has helped lower total cholesterol by lowering LDL and triglycerides. Even more, it will help enhance HDL. This synergy helps maintain a healthy balance between LDL and HDL.

Oxidative Stress

Olive oil is full of antioxidants, especially vitamin E, long thought to minimize cancer risk. Among plant oils, olive oil is the highest in monounsaturated fat, which doesn't oxidize in the body, and its low in polyunsaturated fat, the kind that does oxidize.

Blood Pressure & Olive Oil

Recent studies indicate that regular consumption of olive oil can help decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Diabetes

It has been demonstrated that a diet that is full of olive oil, low in saturated fats, moderately full of carbohydrates and soluble fiber from fruit, vegetables, pulses and grains is the most effective approach for diabetics.

In addition, it helps lower "bad" low-density lipoproteins while improving blood sugar control and enhances insulin sensitivity. A Mediterranean diet, high in extra virgin olive oil, has shown to reduce the risk of type II diabetes by almost 50% compared to a low-fat diet.

Obesity

Olive oil has proven to help reduce levels of obesity by providing healthy fats to improve satiety.

Osteoporosis

A high consumption of olive oil appears to improve bone mineralization and calcification. It helps calcium absorption and so plays an important role in aiding sufferers and in preventing the onset of Osteoporosis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Although the reasons are still not fully clear, recent studies have proved that people with diets containing high levels of olive oil are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative condition in the world. One of its key features is a buildup of so-called beta-amyloid plaques within your brain cells. One study in mice demonstrated that a substance in olive oil can help eliminate these plaques. Additionally, a human study indicated that a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil benefitted brain function. Keep in mind that more research is needed on the impact of olive oil on Alzheimer's.

Antibacterial Properties

Olive oil contains many nutrients that can inhibit or kill harmful bacteria. One of these is Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that lives on your stomach and can cause stomach lcers and stomach cancer.

Test-tube studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil fights eight strains of this bacterium, three of which are resistant to antibiotics. A study in humans indicated that 30 grams of extra virgin olive oil, taken daily, can eliminate Helicobacter pylori infection in 10--40% of people in as little as two weeks.

Cardiovascular Disease 

Our hearts naturally begin to deteriorate with age. Spanish researchers discovered that endothelial function of the arteries in the elderly can be improved from the use of monounsaturated fats, such as extra virgin olive oil.