While most of you know that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is said to help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, there are other claims that state that EVOO may help more than just these few ailments. There has been quite a bit written over the last few years about Extra Virgin Olive Oil helping fight certain types of Cancer among other things. Here are ten benefits I found in my research that may be helped by cooking with and eating olive oil.
Extra virgin olive oil is very special and unique. This is something that people along the Mediterranean, as well as gourmets everywhere, have known for a long time. Thomas Jefferson is even said to have considered the olive tree as ‘surely the richest gift of Heaven’. Well, recent studies show that President Jefferson might just have been right.
Here are 10 reasons why real extra virgin olive oil should be a part of everyone’s diet:
Heart Disease
Micronutrients in olive oil is said to make it a good heart protector. To get the highest phenol content you should be using either Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Virgin Olive Oil. That’s because these two types of olive oil are less refined and do not contain high level of other types of oils (none in EVOO).Colon Cancer
A team of researchers from the University of Ulster discovered evidence that a mixture of compounds found in EVOO, could help protect against colon cancer. As most of you probably already know, Colon Cancer is among the leading cause of death in the Western World.Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association has said that a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol clogs arteries. Of course we knew that already. But according to them, clogged arteries are associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. They recommend using mono and polyunsaturated fats. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a monounsaturated fat.Improved Circulation
It goes without reason that if your arteries are not clogged, then you should have better circulation. The American College of Cardiaology said that blood vessels appear healthier after people consume olive oil that is high in phenolic compounds. EVOO is high in phenolic compounds. It’s said that phenolic compounds have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties. This may explain cardiovascular health benefits that are associated with a Mediterranean type diet.Skin Cancer
This one took me by surprise when I first read it. Some scientist or researchers at the Kobe University School of Medicine stated that applying virgin olive oil after sunbathing may protect against skin cancer. Hmmm…wouldn’t staying out of the sun for long periods of time or using a high SPF protection negate the need for this? Hey, I’m just here researching and writing about what I dug up! If you want to sunbath and you’re worried about skin cancer, I don’t see how some EVOO afterwards will hurt. Plus, there are some studies that suggest EVOO helps make skin soft.Breast Cancer
This is another one that I found surprising. Apparently, according to a published article in the Annals of Oncology from Northwestern University, the main monounsaturated fatty acid contained in olive oil, called Oleic acid, can cripple a cancer gene that is responsible for 25 to 30 percent of all breast cancers. Go Olive Oil Go!Painkiller – Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center found that just 50g of EVOO equaled about a tenth of a dose of ibuprofen. It’s believed that one of the ingredients in the Olive Oil acts as an anti-inflammatory.Bowel Cancer
The Center for the Advancement of Health said that “Olive oil seems to protect against bowel cancer”. This after research was conducted that included 28 countries and written about in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.Anti Wrinkle/Skin Health
The authors of a study from the Monash University in Melbourne speculated that some foods offered skin protection due to their high levels of antioxidants. Some of these antioxidants are Vitamin A,C and E. They went on to say that monounsaturated fats such as those in Olive Oil may offer protection through the same mechanism. Fatty acids are found in the skin. Monounsaturated fats are known to resist oxidative damage the study concluded.Reduction of Blood Pressure
The Cardiovascular Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York said “Olive oil is widely advocated as being good for preventing heart disease, but has not hitherto been associated with blood pressure reduction. An Italian study now suggests that it may lower blood pressure.” Probably due to the reason noted above about extra virgin olive oil helping to prevent the build up of cholesterol and improving circulation.Now I have no way of knowing which ones, if any, of these claims are true. All I have to go on are the studies and research stated above. But even if one were true, that would be more than enough for me to use extra virgin olive oil when cooking and preparing meals for my family.
But to be honest with you, I don’t need any health benefit to make me use EVOO. I love the taste of a variety of olive oils and I’m always happy to try a new brand in hopes of finding another “favorite” olive oil. The potential health benefits associated with extra virgin olive oil is like icing on the cake!
Olive Oil Guy | Health Benefits | 04 2nd, 2009 |
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Wow, just amazing these are some of the benefits from using Italian olive oil and gourmet olive oil in your daily diet, definantly worth considering swaping the butter and sunflower oil for quality gourmet olive oil
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