Although olive oil originally came from the Mediterranean, today it’s popular around the world.

As you may know, olive oil comes from olives, the fruit of the olive tree. They’re an essential, traditional crop of the Mediterranean region. People make olive oil by pressing whole olives.

Extra virgin olive oil is packed with healthy fats and antioxidants, making it a great addition to a nutritious diet.

It’s been linked to a long list of benefits and may protect against inflammation, heart disease, breast cancer, and type-2 diabetes.

The main fat contained in olive oil is monounsaturated fatty acids which experts consider a healthy fat.

Olive oil is used in cooking, cosmetics, medicine, soaps, even as a fuel for traditional lamps.

Let’s talk further about the health benefits of olive oil.

The Health Benefits of Olive Oil

What are The Health Benefits of Olive Oil?

Olive oil is also a great, simple way to replace unhealthy, saturated, and trans-fatty acids of animal fats with a source of omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation and improve cholesterol.

It’s also been associated with improved vascular function, heart health and can promote overall healthy aging.

Animal-based fats such as margarine, butter, dairy fat, and mayonnaise are not as healthy as olive oil when it comes to supporting heart health. These other fats, such as butter are generally higher in saturated fats, and can be harmful for the heart.

It’s always better to use olive oil for cooking when possible than other animal fat, and it’s also better to have olive oil in ingredients rather than other animal fats.

The antioxidants in olive oil can help protect the body from cellular damage that lead to a range of health conditions and disease.

Extra-virgin olive oil is known to have a more bitter flavour. It contains more antioxidants than other types, as it undergoes the least processing.

Can olive oil reduce wrinkles?

Because of its antioxidant content, olive oil may reduce aging skin and wrinkles. The oil can be dabbed around the eye at night or following sun exposure.

Can I leave olive oil on my face all night?

Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids that protect the skin from sun damage, dust, and pollutants. Applying olive oil overnight for skin treatment gives the skin ample rest and healing time to recover. Because it makes the skin elastic and firm, it prevents early signs of aging and wrinkles.

Does olive oil reverse aging?

Olive oil is vital in the disease-reducing Mediterranean diet. Studies show that olive oil protects against Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and skin aging. 

Can olive oil make you look younger?

Olive oil might also help your skin look younger. Lab studies suggest it has strong anti-inflammatory effects on the skin and may protect it from sun damage.  About 75% of olive oil consists of monounsaturated fat, which is associated with increased skin elasticity and firmness

While replacing animal fats with healthier alternatives such as olive oil is a great step toward improved cardiovascular health, it’s not the be-all and end-all solution. Good heart health will also include physical activity, and a balanced diet.

It’s undeniable that anyone who wants to change their diet to promote better heart health can start by adopting the Mediterranean diet. The diet focuses on unrefined, plant-based foods, along with fish, and plenty of olive oil.

Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. People who consume this diet appear to have a higher life expectancy, along with a lower chance of dying from cardiovascular diseases, compared with people who follow other diets. A 2018 study compared the number of cardiovascular events among people who consumed a Mediterranean diet.

Nutrition Information of Olive Oil

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1 tablespoon of olive oil provides:

• 119 calories
• 13.5 g of fat, of which 1.86 g is saturated
• 1.9 milligrams of Vitamin E
• 8.13 micrograms of vitamin K

It also contains polyphenols, tocopherols, phytosterols, squalene, and terpenic acids and other antioxidants.

Finally, when buying olive oil, it may be best to choose an extra virgin olive oil, as this undergoes less processing and is more likely to retain its antioxidant content. However be aware that extra virgin olive oil has a high smoke point of 376 °F (191°C), so it is safe to use for most cooking methods but not all.

Tips for Olive Oil Use

Tips for using olive oil include:

• Drizzling it on salad or adding it to a salad dressing.
• Drizzling it on freshly made bread.
• Using it for making bread.
• Using it instead of other fats when frying.

Research has shown that pan-frying produce such as tomatoes, onions, and garlic in olive oil improves the bioavailability of protective plant compounds, such as carotenoids and polyphenol antioxidants. So even cooking with olive oil may enhance the nutrition of your recipe.

Read More:

What are the Health Benefits of Olive Oil

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