Extra virgin olive oil is famous for its rich, wonderful flavor on salads, pasta, fish, veggies--you name it! But when it comes to good health, extra virgin olive oil is powerful in benefits.
Incorporating olive oil in your daily diet can dramatically reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes as compared to a diet that is low in fats.
Studies have shown that having olive oil regularly can help lower your blood pressure and is also known to decrease the levels of LDL cholesterol, known as"bad cholesterol," a major contributor of heart disease. Not only does olive oil help prevent heart disease but it also slows down aging of the heart and reduces risk of stroke in older adults.
Some folks avoid olive oil because it is dense and high in calories, but is recommended in moderate amounts daily. Studies have shown that olive oil may assist in weight loss as olive oil keeps you full for a longer time and therefore reduces appetite for longer periods of time. It also may decrease sugar cravings.
Among all plant oils, extra virgin olive oil has the highest amount of monounsaturated fats, which does not oxidize readily in the body. It is famous for its richness in antioxidants, especially vitamin E, which plays an important role in lowering the risk of cancer.
Extra virgin olive oil helps in the absorption of calcium. It also enhances bone mineralization and the process of calcification. This property of olive oil is very helpful for people suffering from osteoporosis, who are susceptible to fractures because of reduced bone mass.
The numerous polyphenols in olive oil have been shown to slow the growth of unwanted bacteria, including bacteria commonly responsible for digestive tract infections such as ulcers.
Research has found that extra virgin olive oil has beneficial effects on learning and decreased memory loss associated with aging, as well as diseases such as Alzheimer's.
The regenerative power of olive oil comes from its healthy fats and phenolic antioxidant vitamin E, along with squalene and oleic acids which help in preventing free radicals of the cells in the skin. Use olive oil as a body and face moisturizer, to soothe dry cuticles, prevent stretch marks or to eliminate eye make-up. Create a DIY body scrub by mixing olive oil, sugar (or sea salt), and lemon zest.
Olive oil is a natural treatment for moisturizing your hair and scalp or taming frizz. Dry scalp remedy: Mix 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons water, and massage into damp scalp. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo hair.
Olive oil is widely known as one of the world's healthiest oils.
In fact, people tend to live longer and healthier lives in regions where olive oil is a staple part of the diet.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is the maximum quality olive oil available, extracted from the olive fruit without the use of any heat or chemicals.
In this article we're taking a look at the major health benefits of adding Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your diet, based on the latest scientific evidence.
Regular olive oil is refined and stripped of important nutrients and antioxidants.
In contrast, the natural extraction process used to produce Extra Virgin Olive Oil ensures it retains all the nutrients and antioxidants from the olive fruit.
In particular, it contains over 30 various types of phenolic compounds, which are powerful antioxidants that help protect the body against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that cause cell damage and contribute to disease and the aging process (1).
The fat composition of Extra Virgin Olive Oil is also a major contributor to its healthfulness. It's primarily made up of monounsaturated fat (approximately 73%), a heart healthy fat that is a staple of the Mediterranean diet.
Studies consistently link a diet high in monounsaturated fat with favourable effects on markers of cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke). This includes a reduction in markers of chronic inflammation, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels
Heart disease is the number one cause of premature death worldwide.
Interestingly, populations living in mediterranean regions have low rates of mortality (death) from heart disease. While this is due to a combination of factors, their high consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil is thought to be a major one
It appears the active compounds in Extra Virgin Olive Oil have powerful cardio-protective properties, such as helping to reduce blood pressure and preventing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
One giant review study, which included data from over 840,000 subjects, found that people who ate the most olive oil were 9% less likely to have heart issues and 11% less likely to die early compared to those who ate the least olive oil
Stroke is the second largest killer after heart disease.
It is closely linked to heart disease and shares many of the same risk factors, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
1 French study that compared olive oil usage and stroke incidence that those who consumed the highest amounts of olive oil had a 41% lower risk of stroke. A variety of other studies have also found similar results.
These findings make sense because people who use olive oil will probably be replacing other less heart healthy fats in their diet. Combine this with the high antioxidant and monounsaturated fat content in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and it's clear why it appears to have a favourable impact on cardiovascular health.
Around one million people in Australia are thought to have type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is characterised by the reduced effectiveness of insulin, the hormone that moves glucose (sugar) out of the blood and into cells to be utilized as energy.
It is thought that the phenolic compounds present in Extra Virgin Olive Oil aid in sugar metabolism and improve the sensitivity and effectiveness of insulin.
A large analysis found that adding olive oil in your daily diet could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 13%. In comparison to a low-fat diet, a diet high in olive oil was also found to help normalise blood glucose in people who already had type 2 diabetes.
These beneficial effects are even more pronounced when combined with a Mediterranean style diet. 1 study found that a Mediterranean diet enriched with nuts or Extra Virgin Olive Oil decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 50%.
There are a lot of different cooking oils that claim to be the best.
However, when you consider the major factors that influence how an oil reacts to high temperatures -- oxidative stability and ratio of monounsaturated fats -- Extra Virgin Olive Oil is number one.
While virgin coconut oil has a similar oxidative stability (due to its high saturated fat content), it is extremely low in antioxidants. By comparison, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is rich in beneficial antioxidants such as tocopherols and hydroxytyrosol.
Additionally, if you use an oil regularly you need to consider the known health effects of its primary fats. Saturated fat (coconut oil) has zero known benefits while monounsaturated fat (olive oil) appears to significantly benefit heart health in the long term.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is also more practical for cooking because it comes in a variety of different flavour profiles (much like wine) and can complement both sweet and savoury dishes.
Key Message: When you consider its oxidative stability, superior antioxidant contents and ratio of monounsaturated fat, as well as its diverse flavour profile, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is easily the best option for cooking.
Cooking With Extra Virgin Olive Oil Can Make Your Food More Nutritious
Still not convinced that Extra Virgin Olive Oil should be your main cooking oil?
Studies show that cooking with Extra Virgin Olive Oil can even increase the nutrient content of your food.
This is because the antioxidants in Extra Virgin Olive Oil are so resistant to high heat that they don't break down and instead wind up being absorbed by the cooked food. In addition, it also helps the cooked food to retain some nutrients that are usually lost through cooking.
For example, 1 study demonstrated that when broccoli was cooked with sunflower oil as well as refined olive oil, several beneficial compounds in the broccoli (such as vitamin C) were reduced. However, when cooked in Extra Virgin Olive Oil the levels of those beneficial compounds remained unchanged.
Olive oil, especially those rich in polyphenols such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil, may prevent bone loss with aging. Animal and human studies suggest that olive oil can inhibit bone reabsorption (the breakdown of calcium) and increase bone formation.
The results of a recent study in 870 participants appear to support this theory. They found that people who consumed the highest amount of Extra Virgin Olive Oil had a 51% reduced risk of bone fractures.
This is an exciting prospect, but more research is needed as most human studies have been relatively small in size.
It's known that what and how we eat can influence cancer risk.
Observational studies have shown a lower incidence of some cancers in areas where olive oil intake is high.
A large analysis of 19 previous studies found that people who have a higher consumption of olive oil had a lower risk of breast cancer and cancers of the digestive system.
How or why isn't completely understood, but researchers suspect that the unique oleocanthal content of Extra Virgin Olive Oil may play a protective role. Interestingly, oleocanthal is an antioxidant that forms during the malaxation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and is not found in any other food... not even olives.
We cannot say for certain that Extra Virgin Olive Oil has anti-cancer properties, but the early evidence is promising.
Olive oil could potentially lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and age-related dementia.
The phenolic elements of Extra Virgin Olive Oil may help clear the chemicals that cause brain degeneration.
One study compared an Extra Virgin Olive Oil-enhanced Mediterranean diet with a standard low fat diet and found those on the Extra Virgin Olive Oil diet suffered less cognitive decline (loss of brain function and memory) after a 6.5 year follow up,
In areas where olive oil is a central part of the diet, people tend to live longer.
A large epidemiological study followed over 40,000 Spanish subjects over 13.5 years. Those with the highest olive oil intake were far less likely to die early compared to those consuming the least amount of olive oil.
It makes sense that two of the places where people live the longest -- Icaria and Sardinia -- inhabitants eat a diet rich in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
