Health Benefits Of Drinking Olive Oil
In the Mediterranean region of the world, olive oil is used for cooking a variety of meals. Researchers believe this is the reason for the lower rate of heart disease, and stroke cases in the region.
Thus, olive oil has proven to be beneficial to our health but how beneficial is it truly? In this video, I will be telling you the health benefits of drinking olive oil.
Olive oil is made from the fruits of the olive tree, scientifically known as Olea europaea. Although it is mainly used as cooking oil, it can also be drunk and is used by some religions as a religious item. Here are the health benefits of consuming olive oil.
1. Provides recommended amount of healthy fat
Medical practitioners and dieticians advise that a person should get at least 20% of calories from polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. These types of fats are ‘good fat’ and would improve overall health whilst preventing obesity.
Olive oil contains 73% monounsaturated fat, 14% saturated fat, and 11% polyunsaturated fat. Its monounsaturated fat content is mainly oleic acid, while omega-6 and omega-3 make up its polyunsaturated fat content.
Drinking a few tablespoons of olive oil daily can compensate for low amounts of healthy fat in your diet.
2. Provides nutrition
Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, essential compounds that eliminate harmful free radicals in the body. Antioxidants protect from inflammation and high blood cholesterol, two conditions that increase the risk of complications like heart disease.
3. Fights chronic inflammation
Although inflammations are a natural body response to stimuli like infection, prolonged inflammations are known to precede illnesses such as
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes
Alzheimer’s disease
Arthritis
Cancer
Obesity
Heart disease
The antioxidants in olive oil have anti-inflammatory properties and therefore, are very beneficial. Oleocanthal, a major antioxidant in olive oil, is as effective as anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.
Also, oleic acid lowers the level of body inflammatory indicators like C-reactive protein.
4. Prevents stroke
Stroke is caused by blockage of blood flow to the brain, a result of high blood cholesterol. It is the second most common cause of death in the world, behind heart disease.
Because olive oil has high unsaturated fat content, it aids in preventing stroke. Consuming food loaded with saturated and trans fat would increase total cholesterol levels and cause fatty deposits to build up in arteries.
When these deposits tear off, clot forms at the spot and can block blood flow to body parts. Oleic acid, omega 6, and omega 3 fat increase ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. This is good cholesterol and does not cause a buildup of fatty deposits, which reduces the risk of stroke.
5. Prevents heart disease
In the USA, a person dies of heart disease every 34 seconds. This makes it the most fatal illness in the United States, and the leading cause of death in the world.
Heart disease is also an effect of fatty deposit buildup in the arteries. When it causes the blockage of blood flow to the heart, heart disease occurs.
Research showed that there was a lower number of heart disease cases in Mediterranean countries like Egypt, and Isreal. Extensive studies revealed that olive oil was the main ingredient in their meals, and was likely the cause of the lower heart disease rates.
Olive oil prevents inflammation, lowers ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. It also stops excessive blood clotting and improves the wall lining of arteries. This lessens the risk of developing heart disease.
6. Antibacterial properties
Olive oil can get rid of some harmful bacteria in the body. It is used in the treatment of Heliobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for stomach ulcers, and is believed to also cause stomach ulcer
Consuming olive oil can help kill eight different strains of the bacterium. These strains include three that are resistant to antibiotics.
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