Olive Oil Health Benefits – 10 Time Tested Benefits

People today have become more health-conscious. Choice of food items is more focused on healthy and nutritious substituents. If a particular food item is clubbed together with health benefits like immunity boosters, antioxidants or a rich supply of essential vitamins and its value increases manifold. For this today we are going to talk more about olive oil health benefits.

Olive oil is a common vegetable oil obtained from olives. It is a traditional oil found in Mediterranean countries. Commercial olive oil is produced by pressing and extracting whole olives. It is commonly used in cooking, for frying foods or as a salad dressing. Olive oil health benefits are tremendous, which make it a good choice of oil.

It is a good source of vitamins and antioxidants and also a great source of amino acids. It has several nutritional benefits for the skin, hair, eyes, bones and our general well-being.

Also Read: Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits and for Weight Loss

Here is a list of 10 Olive oil health benefits that are worth noticing.

Benefits of Olive Oil

Contains Healthy Monounsaturated Fats

The origin of olive oil is from the natural oil extracted from olives. Olives are the fruit of the olive tree. This oil has a rich composition, where about 14% of the oil is saturated fat. 11% of the oil contains vital Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids which are non-saturated.

Monounsaturated fatty acids or MUFAs are a healthy type of fat. Most oils used for cooking have saturated fats and Trans fats. They need to be replaced with unsaturated fats that offer health benefits. Monounsaturated fats are also resistant to high heat. In this regard, Olive oil has large quantities of mono-saturated fat in the form of fatty acids. All these features make extra virgin olive oil a healthy cooking choice.

Rich and Large Amounts of Essential Vitamins

We all know that extra virgin olive oil is highly nutritious. It contains many fatty acids that have health benefits for our body. Besides these, Olive oil is also rich in amounts of various essential vitamins. Olive oil has a rich supply of vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are fat-soluble. Some of these vitamins, like Vitamin E, have beneficial effects on the skin. They can be used to treat several skin infections, eczema, and dryness.

Not Associated With Weight Gain and Obesity

We know that fat gain is generally caused by eating excessive amounts of fat. Diets rich in olive oil, do not lead to fat deposition in the body. Such diets do not lead to fat gain. Olive oil contains MUFAs or monounsaturated fatty acids, which have favorable effects on body weight.

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Loaded with powerful antioxidants

Olive oil contains a rich supply of powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants are known to destroy free radicals. They are capable of killing cancer cells and can reduce the risk of heart disease. This is one big reason people prefer the Mediterranean diet as it is associated with great health. Antioxidants can protect you from chronic diseases. They help protect oxidation of your blood cholesterol and also fight inflammation.  When applied to the skin, antioxidants can prevent premature ageing.

Strong Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Chronic inflammation is present in many diseases, like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Type 2 Diabetes, Arthritis and even obesity. Research has shown that Extra Virgin Olive oil contains a substance, Oleocanthal that has the same anti-inflammatory properties as those found in the popular drug Ibuprofen. Its anti-inflammatory effect is further enhanced by the presence of its antioxidants. Extra-virgin olive oil can help to reduce inflammation. This is one of the main health benefits of this oil.

Help Prevent Strokes

Stroke is caused by a disturbed flow of blood to your brain. This can happen either due to any abnormal bleeding that leads to the formation of a blood clot. Studies reveal that regular use of olive oil for cooking and as dressing can reduce the risk of stroke by 41% as compared to those who don’t use olive oil in their diet. This is because Olive oil helps to improve the lining of your blood vessels and may help prevent excessive blood clotting.

Protective against Heart Disease

Heart diseases are very common these days due to our fast-paced and sedentary lifestyles. All diets high in fat are a big cause of inflammation in the body. Fat-rich diets can increase fat in the blood after meals with high-fat content. This can injure our arteries and can become the chief cause of heart disease because they increase inflammation. It has been observed that people who live in Mediterranean countries have every less chance of heart diseases.

Extra virgin olive oil protects against heart disease as it protects “bad” LDL cholesterol from oxidation. It also lowers blood pressure, which is the chief cause of heart disease.

Fights Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder and common neurodegenerative condition. It involves building up of harmful plaque inside your brain cells. Consumption of extra-virgin olive oil protects memory and learning ability. It reduces the formation of these plaques in the brain, and it thus helps to fight Alzheimer’s disease.

Reduces Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Olive oil has also proved to protect your body against Type 2 Diabetes. This is because the mono-saturated fatty acid component of olive oil has a positive effect on blood sugar levels and your insulin resistance.

Its Antioxidants have Anti-Cancer Properties

People in Mediterranean countries have a lower risk of cancers. Many researchers hold Olive oil consumption for that. Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Olive oils are rich in a substance called Oleocanthal which is powerful enough to kill cancer cells. This makes it all the more special. 

These were the various health benefits of Olive oil or Olive oil health benefits.  For this reason, using the right kind of olive oil is essential. However, we need to be cautious of fraud in buying the right olive oil. It is best to read the product label carefully to identify the ingredients. Using Olive oil in your diet regularly will lead to significant health benefits.

If you know more Olive oil health benefits, please do let us know in comments below.