Health benefits of olive oil include treatment for colon, breast cancer, diabetes, heart problems, arthritis, blood cholesterol, weight loss, metabolism, digestion, aging and cancer. Olive oil has been used by mankind since many centuries. It is a staple ingredient for many culinary preparations and also medicinal purposes. Medical studies suggest that olive oil is loaded with health benefits.
Health benefits of olive oil include the lowering of the bad cholesterol level in our blood, as it is rich in monounsaturated fat substance. The extra virgin type olive oil contains the highest level of antioxidant polyphenols and oleic acid. Olive oil is thus a healthy option to other vegetable oils. But, as olive oil also has lots of calories, it should be used in moderate amounts for best health results. The Food and Drug Administration recommends 2 tablespoon olive oil everyday to reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Important Sources: Olive oil, as we all know is essential fruit oil, which we get from olive tree crop found mainly in the Mediterranean regions. Olive oil is utilized for cooking purposes, developing cosmetic products, soaps and also for medicinal gains and as pharmaceutical supplements. It can also be used as fuel and for lighting lamps. Various types of olive oil include the following:
- Virgin Olive Oil: It is used for cooking with less acid content.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: It is of a much superior variety and is made by cold pressing of the olive fruit.
- Pure Olive Oil: It is a combination of refined olive oil and virgin oils. It contains acidic content.
- Lampante Oil: It is used as a fuel and not recommended for cooking purposes.
Benefits: Olive oil has numerous beneficial qualities. Apart from being a good cooking aid, it is also known to have unique medicinal qualities. Some of them are as follows:
- Blood Cholesterol: LDL cholesterol is bad type of cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart attacks and pulmonary heart disease. Extra virgin olive oil, which is rich in almost 40 anti-oxidant chemicals, helps reduce the oxidation effects of LDL.
- Weight Loss: Medical experts suggest that it is much difficult to gain excess weight from mono-saturated fats present in olive oil. Experiments involving Mediterranean olive oil have shown positive results with regards to reduction in human body weight.
- Metabolism: Olive oil boosts metabolism and the growth of good bone structure and brain development in children. It is an excellent source of vitamin E, beneficial for older people.
- Digestion: Olive oil is known to aid in digestive process. It is used as a medicinal oil to clean the digestive tract and for good bowel movement.
- Aging Process: Rich in anti-oxidants, olive oil slackens the natural aging process of human body. Used in cosmetic products and natural herbal therapy, olive oil does wonders for the skin, which gets a natural shine and glow from the enriching oil.
- Cancer: Olive oil is said to protect human body against cancerous growth, especially bowel cancer. Medical research done at the prestigious Oxford University has shown positive signs that the acidic value in olive oil indeed prevents the commencement of rectum and bowel cancer. In UK, bowel cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, which kills almost twenty thousand citizens every year.
There are several grades in olive oil, according to the flavor, aroma, acidic value and color. Readers are advised to buy authentic olive oil with proper evaluation for cooking or medicinal purposes.
This article was contributed by Seema Adnani
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References: Oxford University and Food and Drug Administration
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