It has been known for ages that olive oil has good health benefits. In fact, I’ve read a number of books that have stated that Olive Oil was more precious than Gold in many areas of the Earth in the Middle Ages due to it’s healing powers. But it has only been in recent time that studies have shown us some of the real health benefits of Olive Oil. It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about Gourmet Olive Oil or some generic olive oil, it will still have some health benefits. However, to get the most benefit from Olive Oil, you should use only Extra Virgin Olive Oil, first cold press stuff.
For starters, olive oil is a monounsaturated fat. The good kind of fat, if you will. It’s the saturated fats we want to try and stay away from. The type that many people cook with.
Olive Oil is thought to be beneficial in many ways. Here are a few health benefits of olive oil.
- Reduces blood pressure
- Boost metabolism which helps burn calories and keeps your weight down
- It’s believed to limit the growth of some kinds of cancers
- It’s also believed to help asthma sufferers as well as those with arthritis
- Diabetics are also believed to benefit from Olive Oil
Olive oil is also loaded with antioxidants. Olive oil contains phenons, Vitamin E, chlorophyl and caretenoids which are believed to control levels of LDL cholesteroal, or the bad type of cholesterol. Extra virgin olive oil has higher levels of these beneficial properties because it is less refined than other types of olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is also known to contain good quantities of Omega fatty acids, which aid in good heart health.
Olive Oil and Cancer
The antioxidant properties in Olive Oil are believed to inhibit growths of some type of Cancers such as Colon Cancer. Studies have suggested that the oleic acid found in Olive Oil helps limit the growth of some type of cancer cells. One study even suggested that the antioxidants in Olive Oil help prevent cacinogens when meat is cooked. Enough reason for me to keep a bottle of EVOO handy when I was cooking.
Now you know that Olive Oil not only taste good, but now you know the health benefits of Olive Oil. All the more reason to keep it around your house.