Introduction
Olive oil is a staple of Mediterranean diets, but you may not know just how good this cooking and salad dressing ingredient can be for your health. Olive oil has been shown to have many health benefits, including the ability to help reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, among other things. If you haven't already tried adding extra virgin olive oil to your diet, now's the time!
Olive oil contains the highest level of monounsaturated fat among cooking oils.
Extra virgin olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats are considered "good" because they help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and improve blood sugar levels. They're also found in avocados and nuts such as almonds or macadamias.
Extra virgin olive oil contains a high level of antioxidants, which are compounds that can help protect your body from oxidative damage.
One of the most important things to know about extra virgin olive oil is that it contains a high level of antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that can help protect your body from oxidative damage, which can cause cell damage and even death in your body's cells. Oxidative stress is caused by chemicals called free radicals that react with other molecules in your body and change their structure or function. This process can lead to serious health problems like heart disease or cancer if left unchecked, but antioxidants counteract those free radicals before they do any damage by donating an electron (a negatively charged particle) so the two molecules bind together instead of reacting further.
Olive oil is rich in oleocanthal and oleacein, two compounds that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits.
Olive oil is rich in oleocanthal, a compound that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits.
Oleocanthal is related to the pain-reducing chemical ibuprofen.
A study published in 2011 found that extra virgin olive oil reduced inflammation in lab tests on animals with arthritis. The researchers believe this may be due to oleocanthal's ability to inhibit an enzyme called COX-1 (cyclooxygenase 1), which plays a role in producing inflammatory prostaglandins.[1]
Furthermore, another study published in 2016 showed that daily consumption of extra virgin olive oil was associated with lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of systemic inflammation.[2]
Extra virgin olive oil contains hydroxytyrosol, a compound that may help protect against cancer.
Hydroxytyrosol is a polyphenol, which means it's an organic compound found in plants. Polyphenols are known for their antioxidant properties and have been shown to help prevent cell damage that can lead to cancer.
Extra virgin olive oil may help reduce risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Olive oil may help reduce risk factors for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Olive oil has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, oxidative stress, inflammation and cholesterol levels. It also helps lower insulin resistance in people with metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease).
A high intake of extra virgin olive oil has also been associated with a lower risk of depression and better brain function later in life.
Olive oil is a fat that's high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which can help reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease. It's also rich in antioxidants, which may reduce your risk of cancer by helping to neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and lead to cancer. Olive oil has also been shown to help protect against type 2 diabetes, as well as other chronic diseases associated with aging.
Olive oil may have anti-inflammatory benefits too; a 2015 study found that people who ate more extra virgin olive oil had lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker linked with heart disease risk. And lastly, research suggests that increased consumption of olive oil could improve brain function later in life: A Spanish study found that elderly people who ate more than two tablespoons per day had better cognitive function than those who consumed less than half a tablespoon daily.
Extra virgin olive oil is good for you!
Olive oil is good for you! We've all heard this before, but what does it mean? What makes olive oil so great? And does it really work like they say it does?
Olive oil has been shown to have many health benefits including:
Lowering cholesterol levels in the blood stream and reducing the risk of heart disease
Helping prevent strokes by lowering blood pressure and improving blood circulation through our bodies
Protecting against certain cancers such as breast cancer (in women) and prostate cancer (in men).
Conclusion
The health benefits of extra virgin olive oil are many and varied. It can help improve your brain function, reduce inflammation throughout your body, protect against cancer and heart disease. Plus, it tastes great! So if you're looking for a way to boost your health or just want something new in your kitchen pantry - give this much-loved superfood a try!
