Healthy Diet Plans >> Articles >> Diet and Wellness

The Goodness of Olive Oil

by Sharon Hopkins

Rate This Article

Olive oil the main component of Mediterranean diet is derived by crushing and then pressing fresh olives. There are many types of olive oils available in the market through out the year. Depending on the processing the types of olive oil include - pure extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, pure and extra light olive oil.

Extra virgin olive oil is however considered the most health promoting as it is derived from first pressing of the olives thus has a natural delicate flavor with the goodness of more antioxidants.

Health benefits of olive oil -

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acid, a type of unsaturated fat that has health promoting properties. Olive oil is considered one of the healing fats as when it is replaced with other fats; especially saturated fats have much lower rates of heart disease, atherosclerosis, colon cancer, asthma and diabetes.

Heart health – olive oil is very protective against heart disease. It prevents oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol) and thus prevents it from sticking to the arterial walls. It also helps to decrease the total cholesterol and doesn’t affect the high density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol).

Low cholesterol along with low oxidation of LDL helps to prevent atherosclerosis. The fatty acid that predominates in olive oil is oleic acid that is very resistant to free radical or oxidative damage. In addition to monounsaturated fat, olive oil is loaded with other powerful antioxidants that have free radical scavenging abilities like vitamin E, carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds tyrosol, hydrotyrosol, oleuropein-all and also chlorophyll. In fact it is believed that the abundant polyphenols in extra virgin oil are responsible for cardiovascular benefits rather than the monounsaturated fats alone. Olive oil also helps to maintain a healthy lining of the blood vessels and prevent high blood pressure.
Colon cancer – including olive oil in the diet may have a protective effect against colon cancer when compared to other fats. The polyphenols in olive oil have anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant and antioxidant properties that are responsible for the protective effect against colon cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis (preventing bone loss).
A healthy meal including olive oil and low in fat have a good control over the blood sugar levels and helps to keep the triglyceride levels low in diabetic patients.

Although studies prove that olive oil when replaced with saturated fats helps to lose weight, it should be taken in recommended amounts. Remember that any fat provides almost double the calories compared to carbohydrates or proteins.

Related Topics

Olive Oil Benefits Olives
Olive Oil Nutrition Facts And Olive Oil Health BenefitsOlive oil is a healthy fat, which is recommended in your daily cuisine. It is a...
Tasty Healthy Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive OilExtra virgin olive oil, a very tasty addition to your everyday palate, is high in antioxidants and monounsaturated fat, a...
Pasta Pizza | Renowned Italian Pasta Pizzas Anytime Meals
Pizza And Pasta Magic - Pasta Delight For A Healthy DietItaly is considered to have the lowest amount of obese and overweight citizens living in...
Mediterranean diet recepies therapeutic meals
Mediterranean Diet Recipes Mediterranean diet focuses foods that are natural, devoid of processed foods. Olive oil and fish are the meri
Benefits Mediterranean Diet
A Mediterranean Diet For You The decreased risk of heart disease and cancer in Mediterranean culture is due to their diet that comprises of

More..

Related Questions

Benefits apple vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting ripe apples, the it has a host of n
Healthy Body Nutrition
Health benefits of nutrition Nutrition is the science regarding the role of foods in the maintenance of health. Our nutrition can determine...
Weight Training Exercise Benefits | Weight Lifting Exercises
Weight Training BenefitsI shall surely help you out regarding the benefits of weight training. Treadmills and exercise cycle are thought about in...
Weight Lifting Diet Benefits
Weight Training DietWeight training diet is essential for athletes and people in the sports field. The choice of the right kind of foods helps in...
Supplements Liquid Form
Information on Liquid SupplementsIn everyday meals, we cannot always get all the nutrition in proper amounts as a result of which we may suffer...

More..

Newsletter Subscription

Top Searched Keywords

:: diet

:: GASTRITIS

:: obesity

:: diabetes

:: constipation

Get Current News

Diet and Wellness