Introduction
Olive oil has been around for thousands of years and continues to be one of the most studied foods for its health benefits. This versatile food can be used for cooking, in a variety of ways, as well as eaten straight out of the bottle after being infused with different flavors.
Olive oil is one of the most popular oils for a reason: it’s linked with better health and lower cholesterol. Olive oil contains anti-inflammatories, healthy fats and antioxidants - all of which help to lower cholesterol.
Let’s take a look at cholesterol in olive oil, and how it can help keep your levels in check while improving your health.
Two Types of Cholesterol - The Good and The Bad
As you may know, cholesterol is a fatty substance that your body needs. We need fats in our diet, but we need the right kind and just the right amount.
Cholesterol is an important substance in our bodies that helps digest certain foods and maintain cell membranes. It’s found in all your body’s cells except red blood cells, and it can be harmful in excess amounts.
While they’re both lipids, good cholesterol, or HDL, is much healthier than bad cholesterol. HDL removes bad cholesterol - so the key to better health is to consume foods that boost its benefits.
Olive Oil is FDA and EFSA Approved
New scientific data shows that replacing saturated fatty acids with monounsaturated fatty acids reduces LDL cholesterol and protects good cholesterol.
The European Food Safety Authority further recommends that people consume at least 25 milligrams per day of hydroxytyrosol derived from olive oil to maintain heart health.
Consuming olive oil is a smart option for lowering your cholesterol and can help you decrease your risk of being diagnosed with heart disease or having high blood pressure.
Taking a daily dose of 10 grams of extra virgin oil may help lower C Reactive Protein: high C-reactive protein is associated with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems because it indicates that your body is in a state of chronic inflammation.
Make sure, however, that you get pure olive oil so you can use it as a dressing for your salads or dips for your favorite pastries.
Adding Olive Oil to Your Diet is Effortless
When it comes to food, the freshness and quality of ingredients matter. This is why you should always have a bottle of extra virgin olive oil within arm’s reach.
Extra virgin olive oil is great for cooking and flavoring your meals. It's better for you than other cooking oils, even the ones that claim to be healthy.
To keep you and your loved ones healthy, add a dash of extra virgin olive oil to your next meal.
Conclusion
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is often assertively lauded as a primary staple in any health-conscious individual’s diet, and all evidence points to these claims being correct. The benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on cholesterol levels and general heart health are overwhelmingly positive, and testimonials from doctors and advocates alike back up these facts.
With a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, you can switch out lower-quality oils and make simple changes to your diet to take advantage of the many good things olive oil has to offer.