Olive Oil Benefits – This is an article on the health benefits of olive oil. There are so many people using this oil that it deserves a permanent place in any kitchen pantry. You too can benefit from the benefits of this great oil. What I am going to show you will educate you on how to use this oil for the maximum benefits.
First of all, when people say “extra virgin” or “virgin” olive oil, what they really mean is that it is the “least processed” form. There are also “light virgin” and “dark virgin” olive oil, which are known as the premium forms. In fact, one research report found that when scientists compared extra virgin olive oil to that of regular fish oil, which is known as omega 3 fatty acids, they found that the extra virgin olive oil in fact worked more effectively to fight off cancer-causing tumors in mice.
Second, when you go to the store to buy extra virgin olive oil, be sure to read the labels. Look for the words “extra virgin” or “local production.” If the olive oil is bottled in a warehouse somewhere, you are not getting the real benefits of the oil. I call this my “securities shopping” technique because I know better. I have done this for years and know where I’ve bought good quality extra virgin olive oil. I won’t tell you where I’ve bought it.
Third, make sure you read the label on the extra virgin olive oils. Not all of them are created equal. While the benefits are similar to those of cooking oils, you still don’t want something that has a lot of hydrogenated fats and other additives. Remember, we are talking about adding flavor and most of us don’t want added calories to our food.
Fourth, my favorite part of using olive oil is that you can really taste the benefits. There is none of that synthetic taste that we get from most vegetable oils are very expensive. Extra virgin olive oil is rich and robust and there are no chemical additives that can fool your taste buds. If you experience that “flat” sensation that you get from many vegetable oils, it’s probably coming from the artificial colorings used to make them more appealing to our taste buds.
Fifth, it supports the Mediterranean Diet and way of life. The best examples of a healthy Mediterranean diet include lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, olives, fish, and organic dairy products. Olive oil is not a major contributor to these healthy eating patterns. As an extra, it contributes to a healthier you through its antioxidant activity and by adding extra-virgin olive oil to your diet can help you reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Sixth, for those who already have high cholesterol levels, extra virgin olive oil can help lower them significantly. It may seem counter-intuitive to think that something that is commonly used on the kitchen table could help lower your cholesterol, but the extra virgin olive oil contains special antioxidants that are known to be beneficial to improving cardiovascular health. Antioxidants can prevent damage caused by free radicals, which are produced in response to environmental irritants. Free radicals build up in arteries and cause them to thicken, making it harder for the heart to pump blood around the body. For those with cardiovascular disease, this means that they may be at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
By now you may be interested in learning even more about the benefits of this superfood. To get the most benefit, use it in combination with other natural foods such as garlic, turmeric, and beta carotene. These foods are rich in nutrients and help to support heart health. Along with these benefits, olive oil also helps to lower LDL or bad cholesterol and raise HDL or good cholesterol. These benefits help to maintain or improve the health of people who follow the Mediterranean diet, and should be a part of every household on the diet.