The Benefits of Olive Oil

       Olive oil has so many health benefits in so many ways including Allergic Rhinitis, soothing ulcers, even snoring when you sip a tablespoon before bedtime. 

     The Health and, Beauty market is saturated with olive oil products.  It is especially used in skin products because it contains Linoleic  Acid which  prevents water from evaporating from the skin.

     A new study that has been conducted at the University of Navarra in Spain and ,the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)  has determined that a diet  rich in olive oil is beneficial in preventing mental illness. There were  a little over 12,000 people from a group called the SUN project, which is made up of Spanish university graduates and alumni who who participated in this study.

      The trial lasted over 6 years which proved that olive oil and, diets such as the Mediterranean Diet succeeds for its medical benefits and,the  fight against depression .  Spanish researchers about two years ago found out the Mediterranean Diet and ,the consumption of olive oil, fresh vegetables, beans, and fruits could decrease a person's symptoms of depression by a whopping 30 percent.

     Olive oil is a natural aromatic juice extracted and,pressed from the seductive olive fruit.   It’s the only vegetable oil that can be consumed immediately from pressing.

     There are all types of olive oils and, thousands of brands; they're  all a good source of monounsaturated fat but, EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil , which is from the first pressing of the olives,  contains higher levels of antioxidants, including vitamin E, and, phenols because it is less processed.

     Studies have shown that people who consumed a few tablespoons of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation and, controlling of LDL (bad)cholesterol while raising HDL (good) cholesterol also, higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood.

     There is also Spanish research that suggests including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of the prevention of colon cancer.  Their study results showed that rats fed a diet supplemented with olive oil had a lower risk of colon cancer than those fed safflower oil-supplemented diets. 

     The oil that comes from the first "pressing" of the olive, is Extra Virgin.   I always use this type for salads or, a light sauté.

     Never use Extra Virgin olive oil for frying. 

Here are a few types of olive oils:

Extra virgin - considered the best, least processed, comprising the oil from the first pressing of the olives.
Virgin - from the second pressing.
Pure - undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining.
Extra light - undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild 
 
     Keep olive oil in a cool and dark place and, tightly sealed because  oxygen promotes rancidity.  Olive oil is like other oils and, can easily go rancid when exposed to air, light or high temperatures so, store it in a dark glass bottle or the dark can it is packaged in.

    Olive oil has been in existance for over 3,000 years that should tell us something about the truth of this natural food.