Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Olive Oil is the foundation of the healthy Mediterranean diet. It is well documented for its contribution to the longevity of the population.

The monounsaturated fats, flavones, quercetin, and omega-9 fatty acids (oleic acid) in olive oil create a heady combination of protective nutrients, particularly famed for their heart health properties. A specific compound in olive oil called hydroxytyrosol protects fats in the arteries from being damaged, which halts the progression of heart disease. Quercetin is one of many polyphenols in olive oil that stimulates the enzymes shown to extend the lifespan of cells by helping them repair damage. This work is crucial to your body’s ability to continually renew and hold back aging. Olive oil also contains a newly discovered compound called oleocanthal that has the same anti-inflammatory action as ibuprofen.

·         Allows the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients, such as vitamins A, and E and carotenoids which encourages glowing skin.

·         Vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids keep the complexion youthful by helping the skin stay soft, smooth, and blemish-free.

There are so many ways to include olive oil in your diet, in cooking, salads, dressings, and dips. For the best health benefits and taste, choose organic, cold-pressed, extra virgin oil. As with most foods, you get what you pay for. Olive oil stays stable up to about 325 F/160 C, so is suitable for use in cooking up to a moderate heat.

  Watts, Charlotte. Foods to Stay Young. Bath: Parragon Books Ltd, 2010. Print

Other benefits;

Olive oil is not hydrogenated oil. We know that hydrogenation creates dangerous trans-fats found in margarine and many other packaged foods.

Virgin olive oil is high in polyphenols ( a powerful antioxidant) and monousaturated fat which contributes to lowering bad cholesterol.

Studies now indicate that extra virgin olive oil may help to lower blood pressure. Patients were able to reduce or eliminate the need for medications when olive oil was consumed on a regular basis.

Replacing other fats with olive oil will reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, the disease that is associated with the clogging of arteries caused by cholesterol and saturated fat.

A diet rich in olive oil has been shown to reduce the incidence of colon, breast and skin cancers. Researchers at the University of Oxford beleive that olive oil may be just as effective in the prevention of colon cancer as fresh fruits and veggies.