Why is olive oil probably the healthiest cooking oil you will find

Home » Nutrition » Why is olive oil probably the healthiest cooking oil you will find

Last Updated December 20th, 2021

A brief history of olive oil

Dating back to centuries, olive oil was a fat obtained from the oil tree also known as Olea europaea, a traditional tree of the Mediterranean region. However, the oil is produced when the olives are pressed. Olive oil doesn’t just spread its wings of healing in your cooking venture but is also used in cosmetics, medicine, and soaps, and was also used as a fuel for traditional lamps. Its benefits made it a worldwide product and have been found in every part of the globe.

Olive oil has high percentage of phenolic compounds. These phenolic compounds have antioxidative properties. The reduction of oxidative stress means that olive oil cannot only be used to treat rash but also dermatitis and other skin problems. Squalene is another active ingredient in olive oil that helps to treat conditions such as rash, acne, psoriasis, dermatitis etc. Squalene also serves as a convenient vehicle for the application of other substances, and hence it finds use in moisturizing creams etc.

Olive oil and your heart

Heart disease is a major concern and the most common cause of death in the world. The consumption of olive oil can benefit your cardiovascular system in many ways. A diet with olive oil helps replace the saturated fats in the diet and also reduces the risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Several pieces of researches show a high dietary intake of olive oil can reduce the risk of first heart attack by 82%.

It is therefore evident that including one liter per week of extra-virgin olive oil in a Mediterranean diet in a span of five years seemed to help prevent heart attacks and strokes in people over age 55 who have diabetes or a combination of heart disease risk factors (smoking, high blood pressure, high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, overweight, or with a family history of heart disease).

A Mediterranean diet is loaded with high intakes of fruit, nuts, vegetables and cereals, moderate intake of fish and poultry, and low intake of dairy products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets. Olive oil is a major ingredient found in these diets. It helps control the symptoms associated with cardiovascular diseases it also helps to eradicate stroke from people suffering from heart complaints.

For your digestion

Olive oil is rich in antibacterial properties. They natural possess the characteristics to inhibit the harmful bacteria and kill them. The major bacterium that olive oil acts on is Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori are found in the stomach and are responsible for causing stomach cancer and stomach ulcer. It fights eight stains of this bacterium and three of which are resistant to antibiotics.

It is also used as a remedy for constipation. It benefits the gastrointestinal tract and colon. Olive oil has a consistency and texture that stimulates the digestive system and helps the food to move smoothly through the colon. The consumption of this oil on a regular basis helps to prevent constipation. It doesn’t just make it easy for the food to slip through the colon but also helps in its mobility. It is rich in monosaturated fats which make the food move easier through the colon without any problem. This also helps speed up bowel evacuation.

How can you use olive oil to treat digestion problems?

Olive oil can be used in varied ways depending on one’s comfort.

Raw Olive Oil: Have one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil twice a day. Take one tablespoon of it in the morning on an empty stomach and the second spoon in the night before going to bed. If you forget to take it while your stomach is empty, wait a few hours after you have eaten and then take it as prescribed. Repeat this every day until constipation is relieved.
Olive Oil with Fruits: Some people may not like the taste of raw olive oil; you could be one of them. If you are one among them then you can combine it with a fibrous fruit like apple or orange. Firstly, take a tablespoon of the oil in the morning alongside a fibrous fruit. If it does not help, take another tablespoon in the evening with veggies such as broccoli that is rich in fiber.
Olive Oil with Orange Juice: Add one teaspoon of olive oil to a glass of orange juice and drink it every morning on an empty stomach. This helps in lubricating your system all day long and keeps you healthy. Besides keeping your health up to mark it also helps have a normal bowel movement and reduces constipation.
Olive Oil with Lemon Juice: Add a tablespoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of lemon juice in your morning drink and its results in an effective way to treat constipation naturally. Drink this mixture once every day. You can also take one teaspoon of olive oil with a wedge of lemon in the evening to lubricate your system and to keep your colon from drying while you sleep.
Olive Oil with Milk: This remedy is the greatest when compared to others. It is a great remedy in treating severe constipation. Its making is simple and all you have to do is add one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to a cup of warm milk. Mix it well and make sure your stomach is empty when you drink it. Drinking this on a regular basis helps prevent constipation.

Olive oil for your skin

Are you one among the people who have shed every single penny to make your skin look healthier? Well, its time you stop. Olive oil is a natural food that contains high levels of vitamin E which is associated with improving skin health. It helps to treat acne, inflammation, and dryness in your skin. It keeps your skin’s elasticity and builds the skin’s regenerating properties. As a fighter of free radicals, it provides the necessary nutrients to keep skin healthy.

A simple face pack constituted of lemon juice, olive oil and a pinch of sea salt can work miracles on your skin and rejuvenate it back to its youthfulness. The combination of olive oil with the other components in the Mediterranean diet helps prevent malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous skin cancer. Olive oil contributes its rich antioxidants qualities to mask the damaged cells and helps in slowing down its production.

There isn’t any work for your sunscreen if you consume a considerable amount of olive oil in your diet. The antioxidant features of olive oil help counter attack the oxidizing effects of the suns UVA and UVB rays. The best and most widespread use of olive oil is because of its moisturizing qualities which play a part in treating Eczema. Eczema is a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed with blisters which cause itching and bleeding. It regulates the dryness in the skin and helps it stay hydrated and moist. It gives you those crack free feet. Olive oil keeps the rough feet skin hydrated and treats cracks present in the heels.

Olive oil for a better mood?

Here’s what you should do, start adding olive oil to your diet. Olive oil does portray several emotional health benefits too. Olive oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and is abundantly available in several foods. These help to enrich the nerves in the brain and strengthen the gray matter in the brain. A natural substance named oleocanthal is a natural phenolic compound which helps remove the unwanted proteins present in the brain of patients affected by Alzheimer’s.

It was found that the intake of oleocanthal boosts the production of both proteins and enzymes that help remove beta-amyloid from the brain and treat symptoms related to the disease.

Heal painful joints with olive oil

The consumption and the application have found to bring about a better transformation in patients suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is associated with deformed bones and painful joints. Olive oil supplements have been in demand for such conditions and have been effectively used for the same. The application of olive oil reduces the inflammatory markers and oxidative stress that make the joints painful and enhances mobility in the affected person.

Potential osteoporosis treatment

It is better reflected when combined with fish oil and provides an enormous amount of omega-3 fatty acids which are rich in anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from reducing the inflammation it also helps reduce the pain that is related to the inflammation and gives a soothing feeling to a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Despite being a friend to rheumatoid arthritis patients, olive oil is also a friend to people suffering from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease associated with a decrease in bone mass causing the structure of the bone tissue to alter and become fragile. This condition increases the risk of fractures that can be caused by even a slight knock. The supplements of olive oil help to increase the thickness of the bone.

Olive oil for hair growth

Olive oil moistures your hair and initiates hair growth. It also plays a vital role in reducing scalp irritation which further reduces the presence of dandruff. The qualities to smooth and refresh your hair can be found in olive oil. It brings your lifeless hair back to life and gives it a bounce consistency. A mixture of olive oil, egg yolk, and honey can serve as the best moisturizer for your hair. The proteins and vitamins present in olive oil makes your hair strong and prevents hair fall. The use of regular oil helps fix problems with split ends too.

Though it does so much for your hair, it still finds the time to make your hair look glossy so that you can get rid of your shine serum when you use olive oil. The application of olive oil to your hair tips gives it that finishing glossy touch.

How can it enhance metabolism?

The metabolic syndrome is a combination of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, and high blood sugar. The presence of several nutrients in olive oil helps to treat each abnormality individually. The results of metabolic syndrome are obesity which has been the basis for several health problems.

Obesity has become a threat to the present generation and with time being the need of the hour; many people fail to spend the time to get it on track. The use of olive oil in your daily diet can help cut those poisoned metabolisms and put an end to type 2 diabetes, stroke or sudden death. It is therefore mandatory to consume fish, poultry, and green leafy vegetables at least once a week to keep that big belly off your body.

A bottle of nutrition

Olive oil is available under different circumstances and can be used for several health benefits. To conclude, olive oil is incredibly healthy and should definitely be a part and parcel of your daily diet. It is a powerful antioxidant which contributes to keeping your heart, brain, liver, joints and other parts of the body healthy. To be precise, it may be the healthiest fat available on the planet.

TL;DR?

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