Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Benefits of Olive Oil


I have been hearing for a while, that olive oil is healthy for you. What makes this oil from olives so healthy? What is the benefits of olive oil? I did some research and this is what's up:
The greatest promoter of monounsaturated fat is olive oil. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit.
The useful health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidant substances. Studies have shown that olive oil offers a protection against heart disease by controlling and mantaining LDL, bad cholesterol levels while raising HDL, the good cholesterol levels. No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as olive oil -mainly oleic acid.
Studies have shown that people who consumed an estimate of 25 milliliters, roughly about 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil each day for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, mainly phenols, in the blood. But while all the types of olive oils are sources of monounsaturated fat, extra virgin olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains the higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed. Olive oil is clearly one of the good oils to consume, one of the healing fats. Most people do well with it since it does not upset or interfere the critical omega 6 to omega 3 ratio and most of the fatty acids in olive oil are actually omega-9 oil which is monounsaturated.

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