Is extra virgin olive oil good for you?
Why is it a good idea to use extra virgin olive oil? What is good about it? What does it contain to make it act like medicine for your health? What illnesses does it help to fight against? Does refined olive oil have the same properties as extra virgin olive oil? Do you think it is of high gastronomical value?
In this post, we are going to answer all of these questions although you can already imagine that if someone asks if it is a good idea to consume olive oil, the answer has to be a resounding yes. But, even so, we are going to explain why.
Why should you consume olive oil?
1. Because it is the natural juice of a ripe fruit which is what the olive is and which has undergone no chemical process.
2. Because this natural juice contains elements of great nutritional value such as:
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• Elements which combat bad cholesterol
• Phenols which also contain important antioxidants
• Monounsaturated fats
• Oleic acid
In addition to all of these compounds beneficial for your health is the gastronomic value which extra virgin olive oil has since this EVOO keeps all its aroma and taste unlike refined oils, that is to say, when various oils are blended together.
This blending takes place in order to eliminate certain imperfections in the olive oil. So in short, in order to appreciate all the good things olive oil has to offer, you should choose extra virgin olive oil, the true juice of the olive.
Why olive oil is good for you, its benefits
Olive oil contains many properties beneficial for health, some of which are quite surprising, as for example the fact that:
- It helps to produce weight loss because it contains fats which are healthy and which produce a sensation of fullness, something which is helpful for people wishing to lose weight.
- It relieves pain in joints due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
- The monounsaturated fats which extra virgin olive oil contains delay the onset of mental deterioration and help to prevent the onset of illnesses such as Alzheimer’s.
- It helps to prevent the onset of different types of cancers thanks to its oleic acid, the predominating element in olive oil, and to the presence of polyphenols.
- It is a magnificant ally against diabetes, reducing the incident rate by up to 50%. This is due to the fact that olive oil possesses healthy fats which regulate sugar levels in blood and insulin production.
- It strenghtens your immune system, that is to say, it fights agains viruses and bacteria thanks to its antioxidants and other nutrients.
- It combats bad cholesterol, helping to get rid of it and aids in increasing levels of good cholesterol.
- It reduces blood pressure as a result of its healthy fats. Specialists recommend an intake of three tablespoonfuls a day.
- It hydrates skin resulting in a slowing down of the ageing process.
Olive oil, basis of the Mediterranean diet
Olive oil is a food element which is found at the very heart of the Mediterranean diet. This style of eating is considered by the most prestigious nutritionists to be the healthiest in the world. Olive oil is more than 6,000 years old. The Greek and Roman civilizations already held it in great esteem, not only for its aroma and taste but also because they knew about its many beneficial properties.
The olive tree is an eminently Mediterranean tree. Practically 95% of the total grown are to be found near the Mediterranean in countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece. Spain has become the world’s leading producer and in Spain, up to 260 different varieties of tree are to be found. It is therefore, a cultural reference of the first order, something which is part of our daily lives.
Olive oil forms part of a very rich and varied dietary system. But on its own, it is not enough. To gain full benefit from the Mediterranean diet, it is also necessary to eat fruit and vegetables, pulses, rice and pasta. That how you can enhance the benefits of extra virgin olive oil.
Extra virgin olive oil as a dressing or for cooking?
Extra virgin olive oil is recommended to be used crude, straight from the bottle. That is how its aroma and taste are best appreciated. It is usual on salads and toast.
Nevertheless, it has also been demonstrated that this type of oil is the best one for cooking because thanks to its characteristics, it preserves all the elements that the foods contain since it resists, without problems, the high temperatures reached in cooking. Extra virgin olive oil does not change as do other oils when they reach 200ºC.
It is also certain that people think that extra virgin olive oil more expensive and that using it for cooking is a luxury but it is also true that you do not need to use as much when you are cooking.
A high quality product
There are many types of olive oil to be found on the market. You can find olive oil, virgin olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. There is no doubt that EVOO is considered to be the best because it is cold pressed, which is a natural system with a mechanical procedure of crushing and pressing the olive.
Thanks to this sophsticated technique, we can talk about the authentic juice of the olive. That is how Masía El Altet extra virgin olive oil, considered by many oil tasters as the best olive oil in the world, is extracted.
So to sum up, extra virgin olive oil is very good for your health due to the great quantity of nutrients and antioxidants it contains. It is highly recommended in the fight against all types of illnesses. But we should also not forget that it is of great gastronomical value, that it is the basis of the Mediterranean diet and that it forms part of the culture of Mediterranean countries.
What health benefits do you think you have gained from using extra virgin olive oil? Tell us about them in the comments section.
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