How is olive oil healthy

The benefits of this wonderful fat are among the few things that most people in nutrition agree upon. Olive oil is the natural oil obtained from olives, the fruit of the olive tree. Here are 11 health benefits of olive oil, that are supported by…. Think your hair needs some extra moisture and shine? Olive oil might do the trick. Olive oil has many health benefits, and may also help nourish your hair, especially in a hair mask.

Learn how to make your own DIY olive oil hair mask…. Looking to use olive oil in your ear? Getting your meals delivered can save major time on meal prep. Numerous foods are marketed as healthy but contain hidden ingredients. Here are 14 "health foods" that aren't as nutritious as you thought. If you're considering adding or removing meat from your diet, you may wonder whether meat is healthy. This article explores the environmental and….

For optimal health, it's a good idea to choose the foods that contain the most nutrients. Here are the 11 most nutrient-dense foods on earth. Calcium has many benefits, but most people aren't getting enough of this mineral.

Here is a list of 15 foods that are rich in calcium, many of which…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Production Nutrient composition Anti-inflammatory effects Cardiovascular disease Other benefits Cooking Bottom line Dietary fats are highly controversial, with debates about animal fats, seed oils, and everything in between in full force.

That said, most people agree that extra virgin olive oil is incredibly healthy. Test-tube studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil fights eight strains of this bacterium, three of which are resistant to antibiotics Summary Extra virgin olive oil has antibacterial properties and has been found to be particularly effective against Helicobacter pylori , a type of bacterium that can cause stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.

Extra virgin olive oil retains some of the antioxidants and bioactive compounds from olives. At the end of the day, quality extra virgin olive oil is incredibly healthy.

Due to its powerful antioxidants, it benefits your heart, brain, joints and more. In fact, it may be the healthiest fat on the planet. This is a detailed review of avocado oil and its health benefits.

Avocado oil is high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Extra virgin olive oil is loaded with antioxidants and healthy fats and has been shown to offer numerous health benefits. This article explains why…. Coconut oil was demonized in the past because it is high in saturated fat. But new studies actually suggest that it has several health benefits, and…. Peanut oil is a popular oil used in cooking and frying. Yet while it may have some health benefits, there are also significant drawbacks.

People often consider deep-fried foods unhealthy, but it depends partially on the type of oil used. Find out which options are healthy and why. Grapeseed oil is the latest "heart healthy" cooking oil. Despite the bold claims by the marketers, this oil really isn't healthy at all. A detailed guide to healthy cooking oils.

There are several things to keep in mind, including how stable these oils are when they're heated. Getting your meals delivered can save major time on meal prep.

Numerous foods are marketed as healthy but contain hidden ingredients. 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? Some studies have suggested that substances in olive oil may help reduce the risk of breast cancer , but not all findings confirm this. According to research published in , olive oil contains substances that may help prevent colorectal cancer. Lab tests have found evidence that antioxidants in olive oil may help protect the body from inflammation, oxidative damage, and epigenetic changes.

This may be due to its protective impact on blood vessels in the brain. Oleocanthal is a phenolic compound that occurs in extra virgin olive oil. A review of laboratory studies found that molecules in extra virgin olive oil may help prevent or repair liver damage.

Inflammatory bowel disease IBD causes inflammation of the digestive tract. A review found that phenols in olive oil may help boost intestinal immunity and gut health by changing the microbes in the gut.

This could be useful for people with colitis and other types of IBD. The authors noted that more human studies are needed to confirm these results. Find out more about the Mediterranean diet. Healthy fats are a key dietary component for anyone trying to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes. All fats help slow the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, which can keep blood sugar stable, but research suggests the main monounsaturated fat in olive oil, oleic acid, may be particularly protective against insulin resistance.

Saturated fats, on the other hand, can promote inflammation and have a harmful effect on beta cells, the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Because olive oil helps keep blood sugar levels stable, it can help curb cravings that might otherwise lead to overeating and weight gain—another reason to ditch your fat-free salad dressing in favor of EVOO and vinegar!

Of course, olive oil is still a calorie-dense food, so your best bet is to use it to replace less healthy fats in your diet. Research from suggests that e xtra virgin olive oil is the most stable cooking oil, resisting degradation better than oils with a high smoke point. Thanks to its abundance of heat-stable MUFAs and polyphenols, olive oil counteracts the oxidative stress caused by heat and slows the formation of unhealthy compounds, like free radicals.

But what really sets olive oil apart as a cooking oil? A study found that cooking vegetables like tomato, eggplant, and pumpkin in extra virgin olive oil actually boosted the antioxidant content of those vegetables! The bottom line is that olive oil is incredibly nutritious, and no other cooking oil compares in terms of flavor, versatility, and head-to-toe health benefits. So go ahead, give your meals and recipes a good drizzle or glug of this liquid gold.

Stephanie Eckelkamp is a contributing writer for OliveOil. She received her B.