1. While macronutrients have been constantly researched and talked about in the contexts of health and weight loss, dietary fat and its ostensible benefits have been mired in much debate. Despite this, experts agree that in general, olive oil is a good source of dietary fat and provides many health benefits.
2. Olive oil is derived from the fruit of the olive tree. It is composed of unsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and fatty acids. The fatty acids in olive oil include omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids; however, oleic acid is the predominant fatty acid found in olive oils. Oleic acids have been known to reduce inflammation and possess cancer-fighting properties.
3. While olive oil contains small amounts of vitamins E and K, it is full of powerful antioxidants which not only fight inflammation, but also lowers the risk of heart disease by preventing blood cholesterol from oxidation. In reducing inflammation, olive oil contains oleocanthal which reduces inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and inhibits the proliferation of genes and proteins that drive inflammation.
4. The main causes of death in modern 21^st century societies include strokes and heart disease. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of extra virgin olive oil works to prevent bad cholesterol (LDL) from oxidation while improving the lining of blood vessels which prevents excessive blood clotting. In turn, these also help to lower blood pressure. These properties including the high concentration of monounsaturated fats in extra virgin olive oil helps significantly lower the risks of stroke and heart disease in consumers.
5. Foundational to the much-lauded Mediterranean diet which has been known to be one of the best and heathiest diets, is the use of olive oil. Mediterranean societies boast of generally low rates of heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer’s, one of the most common neurodegenerative disease, is caused by an accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in brain cells which olive oil has been shown to be able to remove. Additionally, the Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil has also been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and have benefitted people with insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Mediterranean societies also report lower cases of cancer sufferers. Free radicals, long believed to be the cause of many cancers, lead to oxidative damage in cells. Antioxidants in olive oil help to reduce these oxidative damages. Stomach cancer and stomach ulcers are often detected through the presence of a bacterium in the stomach; these bacteria have been generally known to be resistant to antibiotics. Consuming extra virgin olive oil on a daily basis has been known to eliminate this bacterium in as little as two weeks.
6. As modern societies become more health-conscious and the central role nutrition plays in boosting health and wellness become common knowledge, the popularity of superfoods have significantly increased. Olive oil, and especially extra virgin olive oil, is one of those superfoods that has been around for a long time and is quickly catching the world’s attention. We can benefit from the knowledge gleaned from long-term and traditional consumption of olive oil in some societies. On top of its many preventive properties, the consumption of olive oil has also been associated with serving the need for good fat in diets. Replacing your regular cooking oil with olive oil and generally infusing the consumption of olive oil in your diet is a simple change that can only bring benefits and positive returns.