Olive Oil Is The Liquid Green Gold Standard For Health
A world-renown heart surgeon, Dr. Steven Gundry, is known for telling his patients that “food should be an excuse to eat olive oil.” I couldn’t agree with him more!
Aside from the fact that it is absolutely delicious on food, it has tremendous benefits for your health.
Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat primarily composed of a fatty acid called oleic acid. Oleic acid is a powerful anti-inflammatory that has demonstrated a beneficial effect against genes linked to cancer. [1] [2]
Olive oil has an abundant amount of antioxidants which play a key role in reducing chronic disease and oxidation. The phenolic compounds present in olive oil are strong antioxidants and radical scavengers. [3]
Heart disease and metabolic syndrome are typified by low-grade inflammation. The antioxidants found in olive oil can inhibit some genes and proteins that drive inflammation. [4]. Extensive studies have also shown that olive oil plays a key role in protecting people against strokes. [5] The beneficial compounds in olive oil also lower blood pressure and improve the elasticity of blood vessels. [6]
An extensive study on olive oil found that it helps maintain a healthy weight with less fat gain associated with the waist. [7] This is especially important for preventing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. A Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil can significantly reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. [8]
Olive oil along with Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil have demonstrated an impressive reduction of oxidative stress in patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. [9] Supplementing with Omega 3 oils along with olive oil is also beneficial. “However, patients showed a more precocious and accentuated improvement when fish oil supplements were used in combination with olive oil.” [10]
Remarkably, olive oil even can act as an antibacterial. Studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil can protect you from various strains of harmful bacteria like Helicobactor Pylori and 3 strains of bacteria that are antibiotic-resistant. [11]
Even the olive tree leaves offer similar immune support. It is common in Greece to boil the olive leaves and drink them as tea. It is no wonder that the Mediterranean diet has been recognized as one of the healthiest diets in the world. Nor is it a coincidence that the Greek island Ikaria is part of the blue zone. People in blue zones easily live to be 100 and enjoy a healthy life well into old age. An interesting article about the island of Ikaria as a place where people forget to die can be found here.
Olive oil is an outstanding healthy fat. To sum up, here are your top 10 reasons to consume olive oil:
- It is a rich source of healthy monounsaturated fats.
- It is loaded with Antioxidants.
- It has strong anti-inflammatory markers
- It can help deter strokes and guard against heart disease
- It promotes healthy weight
- It may reduce type 2 diabetes
- It has anti-cancer compounds
- It can help treat rheumatoid arthritis
- It has antibacterial properties
When it comes to choosing the healthiest olive oil on the market, buyer beware. Not all olive oils are the same and some have been diluted with other harmful oils. Before you select an olive oil, make sure to read the ingredients and check for quality certification. I may be a little biased, but I personally love and consume olive oil sourced from Greece.
