Some people consume it by the spoonful for medicinal purposes. Which are the most healthful oils? Find out here. Many studies have looked at the health benefits of olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil, which is the best quality oil available, is rich in antioxidants, which help prevent cellular damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are substances that the body produces during metabolism and other processes.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. If too many free radicals build up, they can cause oxidative stress. This can lead to cell damage, and it may play a role in the development of certain diseases, including certain types of cancer. Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. People who consume this diet appear to have a higher life expectancy, including a lower chance of dying from cardiovascular diseases, compared with people who follow other diets.
A study compared the number of cardiovascular events among people who consumed a Mediterranean diet, either with olive oil or nuts, or a low-fat diet. People who consumed the Mediterranean diet, whether with olive oil or nuts, had a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than those on the low-fat diet.
According to the authors of one review , the Food and Drug Administration FDA and the European Food Safety Authority recommend consuming around 20 grams g or two tablespoons tbs of extra virgin olive oil each day to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Results of a study suggested that the polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil may offer protection from cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis , stroke , brain dysfunction, and cancer.
Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant. Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by a group of risk factors that increase disease risk, including obesity , high blood pressure , and high blood sugar levels. Which foods help lower blood pressure?
Click here to find out. In , a rodent study suggested that ingredients in extra virgin olive oil may help protect the nervous system and could be useful for treating depression and anxiety. Two years before, scientists had found evidence that people who ate trans fats, which is an unhealthful fat that features in fast foods and premade baked goods, were more likely to have depression than those who consumed unsaturated fats, such as olive oil.
How can diet impact depression? According to legend, olive trees, along with cedars and cypresses, were used to built the Cross of Christ. The Italian extra virgin olive oil preserves the secret of the genuineness and delicacy of a pure and precious extra virgin olive oil. By adopting an olive tree for you or as a gift for someone you love, you will have the chance to enjoy a part of authentic rural life in Italy.
You will have the opportunity to share the pleasures of the countryside with updates on your tree, on the olive grove, food and the typical Italian lifestyle. Click here to find out how. Are you traveling in Italy and want to discover the secrets of growing olive oil? Click here and immerse yourself in our anyways. Do you want to discover Italy the authentic way?
Take a look at our anyways. Or proceed by choosing an Italian region or one of the five senses to which anyways. Do you want to discover other characteristics of the Italian culture, language and traditions? Are you interested in typical recipes of the Italian cuisine?
Our Blog. Also known as EVO oil, it is the symbol of Mediterranean civilization. This was meant as a sendoff into the afterlife. As we touched on in the intro, there are four main Christian symbols, and olive oil is one of them. The others include water, wine, and bread. You can find such a passage in the Bible, particularly Exodus As a side note, cinnamon oil is great for diffusing.
While many of us wait for the cinnamon pine cones to come around Christmas time, it is actually possible to enjoy the fragrance of cinnamon oil year round. Besides its many references in the Bible, olive oil also plays a significant role in Christianity in many ways. As we covered in the intro, priests will get anointed with olive oil. This goes back to the Exodus passage we quoted above. In the early days, monarchs and kings would also receive an olive oil anointment.
For instance, Samuel, a prophet and Israeli monarch, was the second to get anointed with this oil. Although anointments of this nature feature heavily in Christianity, they date back to Pagan times.
Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians would all use olive oil for this purpose, too. In those times, olive oil had medicinal purposes as well as religious ones. These curing rituals involved the church, sacred lamps, and olive oil. Michael Pellicer is one such person who received a ritual. His case is known as the Miracle of Calanda. Pellicer had had an amputation to his leg. He experienced a lot of pain from the procedure.
While it took two years, when Pellicer finally left Zarazoga for Calanda, he got his leg restored through the Virgin Pilar. If someone had to receive an exorcism, then the sacred oils would be used for such a purpose. Three sacred oils exist. These are the oil of the holy chrism or myrrh, the oil of the catechumens, and the oil of the sick. The oil of the holy chrism will be used for confirmations or baptisms, while the oil of the catechumens has a role in exorcisms.
But olive oil is also loaded with powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants are biologically active and may reduce your risk of chronic diseases 6 , 7. They also fight inflammation and help protect your blood cholesterol from oxidation — two benefits that may lower your risk of heart disease 8 , 9. Summary Extra virgin olive oil is loaded with antioxidants, some of which have powerful biological effects.
Extra-virgin olive oil can reduce inflammation , which may be one of the main reasons for its health benefits. The main anti-inflammatory effects are mediated by the antioxidants. Key among them is oleocanthal, which has been shown to work similarly to ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug Some scientists estimate that the oleocanthal in 3. Research also suggests that oleic acid, the main fatty acid in olive oil, can reduce levels of important inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein CRP 2 , 3.
One study also showed that olive oil antioxidants can inhibit some genes and proteins that drive inflammation Summary Olive oil contains nutrients that fight inflammation. These include oleic acid as well as the antioxidant oleocanthal. Stroke is caused by a disturbance of blood flow to your brain, either due to a blood clot or bleeding.
In developed nations, stroke is the second most common cause of death, right behind heart disease A large review of studies in , people found that olive oil was the only source of monounsaturated fat associated with a reduced risk of stroke and heart disease In another review in , participants, those who consumed olive oil were at a much lower risk of stroke than those who did not Summary Several large studies demonstrate that people who consume olive oil have a much lower risk of stroke, the second biggest killer in developed countries.
Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the world Observational studies conducted a few decades ago showed that heart disease is less common in Mediterranean countries.
This led to extensive research on the Mediterranean diet , which has now been shown to significantly reduce heart disease risk 17 , Extra virgin olive oil is one of the key ingredients in this diet, protecting against heart disease in several ways Interestingly, it has also been shown to lower blood pressure, which is one of the strongest risk factors for heart disease and premature death. Dozens — if not hundreds — of studies indicate that extra virgin olive oil has powerful benefits for your heart.
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