Benefits of Olive Oil

‘Olive oil is pure fruit juice, a gift from nature’.

Olive oil is good source of the antioxidant, vitamin E. It contains 1.6 mg. of vitamin E per tablespoon, which is 8% of the recommended daily allowance.

Olive oil is an excellent alternative to butter or margarine for use in food preparation or for use as a condiment. It enhances the taste of many foods and it has proven health benefits. Because olive oil is so flavorful, less is required to add flavor to food. This reduces the calories and the total fat content of food prepared or served with olive oil compared to food prepared with other less flavorful oils.

Experts now believe that olive oil brings optimum health because it provides a high intake of oleic acid, the monounsaturated fat that is found in the purest olive oil.

The World Health Organization has long supported the “Mediterranean Diet Pyramid”, which recommends olive oil as the principal fat, replacing other fats and oils, including butter.

Regardless of the type or grade, olive oil contains 120 calories per tablespoon.

When used for cooking, the healthy aspects of olive oil do not change when the oil is slowly heated. The oil starts losing its flavor and nutritional benefits at approximately 250F with Extra Virgin and 350F with Virgin Olive oil.

Health Benefits

Olive oil has been linked to the following health benefits:

• Lowering the risk of heart disease
• Reduction in the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Lowering of blood pressure
• Decrease in blood sugar levels
• Increase in the absorption of several vitamins including A, D, E, and K
• Stimulation of the gall bladder to secrete bile, which helps to prevent gallstones
• Anti-aging influences on the internal and external organs
• Promotes cellular growth, speeds healing, and helps the metabolism

 

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