Olive Oil

Understanding the benefits of natural olive oil

by Sandeep Godiyal

(NaturalNews) Everyone knows that natural and organic foods are far more healthier than their processed counterparts. Unfortunately, many people don't take to heart this valuable piece of information, and they continue to consume food products that are completely unhealthy for them. In doing this, they often develop a wide array of preventable health conditions. The road to getting healthier can begin today, and it can start by incorporating natural olive oil into one's diet. In fact, let's go ahead and take a quick look at five healthy benefits of natural and organic olive oil.

Benefit 1: Good for the heart

Bad cholesterol, medically referred to as LDL, can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. Because of this, people need to do all that they can to limit the amount of bad cholesterol that develops in their bodies. Natural olive oil has been proven to reduce the amount of arterial plaque that builds on the walls of arteries; therefore, making it a great weapon in the fight against heart disease.

Benefit 2: Boosts iron intake

Organic and natural olive oil tend to have high levels of iron. Iron helps formulate hemoglobin, which is the protein in the body that helps carry oxygen through the bloodstream. Iron also plays a key part in building enzymes that regulate immune functions. Additionally, iron is essential in the overall cognitive development of a person. Basically, the more iron a person has, the healthier he or she will be, and consuming natural olive oil is a great way to boost iron intake.

Benefit 3: Protects against cancer

Cancer is a disease that finds its way into every family. Whether it be colon, breast or skin cancer, almost everyone knows of someone who has died from the disease. Fortunately, consuming natural olive oil will help fight against cancer. How does it serve as protection? Mainly, it's because it contains phenolic antioxidants, terpenoid and squalene, all of which are great weapons against the development of cancer.

Benefit 4: Reduces pain

Because natural olive oil tends to contain high levels of oleocanthal, it works as a strong anti-inflammatory substance, meaning it mimics the properties of ibuprofen. Because of this, natural olive oil is a great natural pain reliever. Whether it be a headache or arthritis pain, many people testify that natural olive oil can reduce the associated pain.

Benefit 5: Protects against ulcer development

Natural olive oil has high levels of antimicrobial properties, which are great at reducing the risk of ulcers in the stomach. In fact, because the oil is packed with polyphenols, these protect against eight different strains of bacteria that are known to cause ulcers. Three of these strains are resistant to antibiotics, making natural olive oil even more effective than some medications.

Tips for buying olive oil

When buying natural olive oil, it's best to buy oil that's packed in dark glass. The darkness of the glass will protect the oil from degrading due to heat and light. Additionally, when purchasing the oil, it's a good idea to purchase certified olive oil; this ensures that the oil itself really is natural.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.chatelaine.com

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266258.php

http://health.howstuffworks.com

Suzanne

Make sure you know where your olive oil comes from and what type it is. The best olive oil is extra virgin. Consumer Reports tested 138 bottles from 23 different manufacturers. Only 9 products met the requirement for actually being extra virgin. The two best tasting were McEvoy Ranch and Trader Joe’s California Estate. The best source of olive oil? California. I don't know if that's due to shipping distances from Italy or because a lot of companies claim their olive oil comes from Italy when it may only be shipped there to be bottled or is heavily mixed with non Italian oil. The tip above about only buying olive oil in dark containers is also valid. Most of the cheap olive oil like Crisco brand come in clear containers where the oil is exposed to light.

Eat More Olives To Ward Off Cancer, Improve Overall Health

by Antonia

(NaturalNews) Olives are much more than a tasty side dish to be enjoyed as an appetizer. They pack a punch when it comes to health, and as such, are ideal to add to meals like salads. In fact, studies have found that olives have compounds that help fight cancer, specifically of the colon and breast (1).

One study from the University of Barcelona discovered that the skin of an olive contains maslinic acid, which is known to kill off cancer cells and drastically slow down the growth of colon cancer cells. Impressively, the concentration of maslinic acid in olive skin may be as high as 80 percent (1).

The second study, this time conducted jointly by researchers at the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Girona and the University of Granada, found that phenols in extra-virgin olive oil played a role in the death of breast cancer cells, a process called "apoptosis" (1).

It's no wonder then, that olives make the George Mateljan Foundation's list of The World's Healthiest Foods for their ability to fight cancer, among other things. In a description on their web site, it's stated that the "Antioxidant phytonutrients in olives may have a special ability to protect DNA (deoxyribonucleic acids)--the key chemical component of genetic material in our cells--from oxygen damage." (2)

Olives fight high cholesterol, inflammation too

In addition to combating cancer cells, olives can benefit health in other ways. Black olives, for example, have a high vitamin E content, which is vital for brain, lung and blood cell function (3). According to the National Institutes of Health, eating foods like olives which have a high unsaturated, healthy fat content helps boost the body's absorption of vitamin E.

Olives are also a way to help heart health as well as keep inflammation at bay. Their monounsaturated fat plays a role in regulating cholesterol levels, lowering the bad (LDL) and raising the good (HDL) levels (3). And according to the Arthritis Foundation, studies have shown a correlation between olive oil and inflammation; the compounds in olive oil can halt the production of inflammation in a way that words similarly to NSAIDs (4).

This is good news, especially considering that there are many harmful health effects that may result from taking NSAIDs. The Mayo Clinic says some problems that may arise from taking NSAIDs are mouth inflammation, night blindness and severe pain (5). A natural, healthy option like eating olives and using extra-virgin olive oil is a much better alternative to keep health in tip-top shape.

Sources for this article include:

(1) http://www.naturalnews.com

(2) http://worldshealthiestfoods.com

(3) http://www.livestrong.com

(4) http://www.arthritistoday.org

(5) http://www.livestrong.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

-Suzanne-