Olive Oil Health Products

The Amazing Health Benefits Olive Oil

Research into olive oil is discovering more and more benefits on a daily basis, it seems we are just beginning to understand the many ways that olive oil is able to improve our health, and our lives for that matter.

Anyone from the Mediterranean region is able to tell you about the health benefits, not to mention the wonderful flavour, of a good table spoon of olive oil when placed on salads, fish, pasta and just about anything else. Olive oil is readily available all year round and will satisfy the taste buds and promote good health.

Olive Oil for Health

A few of the diseases that olive oil has been discovered to be effective against

Heart Disease

Olive oil in known to help lower the levels of blood cholesterol, Triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. Keeping in mind that your total cholesterol score is calculated using the following:-

HDL plus LDL plus 20 percent of your triglyceride level. Those with higher levels of HDL cholesterol are better. Low or lower HDL cholesterol levels places people at higher risk for heart disease. Is is common in those with high blood triglycerides that they usually also have lower HDL cholesterol.

Cancer

Cancer prevention has been one of the most active areas of olive oil research. The phytonutrient in olive oil, oleocanthal, mimics the effect of ibuprofen in reducing inflammation, which can decrease the risk of breast cancer and its recurrence. So the jury is no longer out on the health benefits of olive oil with respect to cancer.

Other components of olive oil being studied for possible benefit with cancer effect are Squalene and lignans.

Blood Pressure

As the research continues it is found that regular consumption of olive oil can help decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Diabetes

It is known fact that a diet that is rich in olive oil and low in saturated fats, with moderately rich carbohydrates and soluble fibre obtained from eating fruit, vegetables, and grains is the most effective in the fight against for diabetics. Olive oil will help lower "BAD" low-density lipoproteins and at the same time will help improve blood sugar control and enhance insulin sensitivity.

Obesity

It is said that olive oil could be the Secret Weapon for weight loss. Olive oil is higher in calories, yet it also known to help reduce levels of obesity. Consuming olive oil is not going to start shedding the kilos right away. The weight-loss effect kicks in when one combines with eating healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit, legumes and whole grains, moderate in dairy, white meat and fish.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is interesting for those that might develop rheumatoid arthritis, even though the reasons are still not fully clear, some studies have proved that people with diets containing high levels of olive oil are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.

A higher consumption of olive oil may improve bone mineralization and calcification. Olive Oil can help calcium absorption and can also play an important role in aiding sufferers and might even prevent the onset of Osteoporosis

Oxidative Stress

Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, considered to minimize cancer risk. Amongst plant oils, olive oil is the highest in monounsaturated fat, which does not oxidize in the body, it is also low in polyunsaturated fat, which is that that does oxidize.

One of the latest studies revealed that extra-virgin olive oil can protect the liver from oxidative stress.

There is growing evidence that olive oil may have great health benefits including reducing stress, heart disease and the prevention of some cancers. It has been shown that extra virgin olive oil and its extracts protect against oxidative damage of hepatic tissue.

Olive Oil for Cooking

There seems to be a misconception or myth that while olive oil is healthy, one should NOT use the oil for cooking or frying. This comes from the belief that somehow with the high heat used in cooking or frying makes olive oil unhealthy. Yet it seems that this belief is not consistent with historical uses of olive oil especially in Mediterranean cuisine, nor with the wide range of published research.

Olive oil, is recommended by those scientists who have completed a wide range of research and they say olive oil is not only safe for cooking they tell us that olive oil can be used for high temperature frying! So the expectation that extra virgin olive oil should never be heated or used for cooking is not supported by the research.

Dr. Mary Enig, the author of Know Your Fats is one of the world's foremost experts on healthy fats and oils and while she recommends her own personal blends of oils she also recommends using olive oil for cooking.

Her coments:-

'A unique blend of oils that can be used for sauteing and light frying is one that is a blend of coconut oil (one-third), sesame oil (one-third), and olive oil (one-third). It is easy to make up in small portions ranging from a single tablespoon measure (one teaspoon of each oil) to a pint and a half size (one cup of each oil).

At this point of time it seems that Oxidized fats, which are the primarily derived from polyunsaturated oils, like corn, soybean oils, are known to be linked to inflammation and various diseases.

Studies have been done doing comparisons between virgin olive oil and sunflower oil - polyunsaturated oils - and cooking oils where antioxidants were added.

Interestingly these antioxidants, that are present naturally in high quality olive oils, do protect against oxidative stress and inflammation when higher heat is applied. It is shown that the antioxidants present in olives are so powerful in resisting oxidation when heat is applied, that they are often introduced or added to other cooking oils to assist making them more stable when cooking.

In a nutshell, it is very safe to use virgin olive oil in cooking and even deep frying. Also olive oil can be retained and reused more than once. Olive oil does not seriously degrade in normal household cooking. Keep in mind that olive oil can be very sensitive to sunlight, that is why when sold you find in in tin or darker bottle containers..

Olive Leaf Extract

Like many ancient remedies the benefits of the medicinal use of Olive leaves is now being supported by scientific studies. Research at two Australian Universities [Southern Cross and Charles Sturt] have recently found that young olive leaves have up to 40 per cent more anti-oxidents than even extra virgin Olive Oil has, thus making the benefits mentioned above even more accessible for looking after ones health.

Olive Leaf Extract can generally be purchased from various reputable Australian Companies in the form of a liquid or in capsule form.

Olive Oil in Australia

Olive trees were brought into Australia in its infancy as a western country and with the influx of European settlers after World War II quickly grew in popularity.

Olive Oil production in Australia started in the mid 1960s at Robinvale in northern Victoria and since then Australia has gradually become one of the important olive oil producers in the world due to it quality of product and consistant supply.

Please Note: No medical information is published on this website and articles show are not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and the reader is advised not to take any action before consulting with a health care professional.

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