Health Benefits Of Olive Oil

It is widely known that the Mediterranean Diet is one of the most healthful in the world. With an emphasis on eating of lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, and above all, olive oil, this diet has insured a longer life for the people of the Mediterranean basin than anywhere else in the world.

• No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, which lower LDL levels while raising HDL levels, thus protecting the heart
• Olive oil contains significant levels of antioxidants, such as vitamins E, A, K, and polyphenols, which help, delay aging and prevent certain cancers, arteriosclerosis, and liver disorders
• Olive oil has a beneficial effect on gastritis, ulcers, and gallstones
• Olive oil aids digestion and helps the body to absorb calcium
• Research has proved that only breast milk can be more easily digested than olive oil by the human body
• Olive oil is simply the healthiest and most easily absorbed edible fat

Heart Disease

Studies have shown that people who consumed 25 millilitres (mL) - about 2 tablespoons - of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood.

But while all types of olive oil are sources of monounsaturated fat, EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed.

This wonderful oil is clearly one of the good oils, one of the healing fats. Most people do quite well with it since it does not upset the critical omega 6 to omega 3 ratio and most of the fatty acids in the oil are actually an omega-9 oil which is monounsaturated

Colon Cancer

Spanish researchers suggest that including extra virgin olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention. Their study results showed that rats fed diet supplemented with olive oil had a lower risk of colon cancer than those fed safflower oil-supplemented diets. In fact, the rats that received olive oil had colon cancer rates almost as low as those fed fish oil, which several studies have already linked to a reduction in colon cancer risk.

Test it for yourself!!

If you spill some Olive Oil on your hands you can easily wash it off, you don't need a lot of hot water and detergent. Because your body is like a glass of water it reacts the same. If you have eaten some olive oil your body will evaporate it within 1½ hour through your pores. This means your body can handle it easily and does not have to waste any energy to digest it. This works differently with butter and other products, especially those based on animal products. In this case you have to scrub hard and need hot water and detergent to dissolve the fat in the water so it can be washed away. Now just imagine your insides!!