A majority of people think of Olive Oil as healthy to eat or cook with, mainly because of its:
In addition, Extra Virgin Olive Oil can be used as an inexpensive beauty ingredient in these variety of ways:
Smearing Olive Oil feels more concentrated than a lotion and it doesn’t absorb as fast but if you have a little extra time, Extra Virgin Olive Oil penetrates deeply to regenerate cells and soften the tissue. In addition, Extra Virgin Olive Oil contains the same healthy fats as avocado, which can plump lips and moisturize the skin with its combination of vitamin E and vitamin A.
Apply daily to areas that are known to be dry, such as feet and elbows, especially after showering. Furthermore, Extra Virgin Olive Oil helps to lessen the appearance of acne scars. If you’re a fragrance junkie, you can easily add scent with a few drops of essential Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Olive Oil is an inexpensive, efficient and effective lubricant to help shave facial and other body hair. The shave is a little more sticky and there’s less glide but cleanup is easy and additionally, Extra Virgin Olive Oil leaves the skin soft and dewy. Rub in an extra teaspoon after washing. Trust us, you won’t regret it!
Apply olive oil to skin then scrub with sugar or coarse salt, and rinse. Or, mix one part Extra Virgin Olive Oil, one part sea salt, and a couple drops of essential oil (lavender highly suggest). Mix to create an old world paste which:
You can also use Olive Oil alone or with water irrigation to remove wax from your ears. The AAFP advises three drops of Olive Oil in the affected ear each day for three to four days. Additionally, that recommend that you place room-temperature drops of Olive Oil in the ears with an eye dropper in the evening right before going to bed; lying in bed on your side allows the oil to penetrate the wax more deeply.
If the change of season is causing dry hair or scalp, you can always help by transferring some Extra Virgin Olive Oilsinto a plastic bottle and place it in a bowl of hot water. Massage a good amount of heated oil into scalp and hair and wrap hair in a heated towel or sit under a dryer for 10-15 minutes. Rinse hair thoroughly with a mild shampoo.
Rub a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil into the cuticles to moisturize and prevent snags, or mix oil with water to soak hands before a Do It Yourself mani.
A few drops of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on a cotton ball or pad go a long way to remove makeup and impurities. Wipe face in a circular motion. Take extra precaution around the eye: place the cotton pad against your closed eye for 10 seconds and gently wipe.
With these easy 7 DIY treatments, you know exactly what ingredients you’re putting on your skin not to mention the potential cost savings of forgoing more expensive lotions, gels, scrubs, and masques! Enjoy using olive oil in a whole new way.
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's 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.
1. 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 lower your total cholesterol and LDL (the bad) cholesterol levels, and may also help normalise blood clotting.
Reducing your LDL cholesterol means your arteries will be less 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Olive Oil Will Assist In Protecting You From Depression
According to recent research, olive oil could 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 people 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 processes related to diet, but studies are still being conducted.
5. Olive Oil May Play An Essential Role In Preventing Osteoporosis
There is increasing evidence that olive oil intake may help improve the amount calcium in the blood, which can have a positive effect on bone density, so it may therefore help prevent osteoporosis from developing.
6. Olive Oil Can Help Lower the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Initial studies have shown 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 reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease too.
7. Extra Virgin Olive Oil Reduces Inflammation
Extra-virginolive oil has been found to mimic the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 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 believe 3.5 tablespoon dose is equal to a 200mg tablet of ibuprofen.
