"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.
Part of the Mediterranean diet, this traditional oil has been a dietary staple for some of the world's healthiest populations.
Studies show that the fatty acids and antioxidants in olive oil can offer some powerful health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease.
This article reviews why extra virgin olive oil is one of the healthiest fats.
What is olive oil and how is it made?
True extra virgin olive oil is 100% natural and very high in antioxidants. Many of the lower quality olive oils have been processed and adulterated with cheaper oils.
Nutrient composition of extra virgin olive oil
Olive oil is very high in monounsaturated fats and contains a modest amount of vitamins E and K. True extra virgin olive oil is loaded with antioxidants, some of which have powerful health benefits.
Extra virgin olive oil contains anti-inflammatory substances
Olive oil contains oleic acid and oleocanthal, two nutrients that can fight inflammation. This may be the main reason for olive oil's health benefits.
Extra virgin olive oil and cardiovascular disease
Olive oil may be one of the healthiest foods you can eat for heart health. It reduces blood pressure and inflammation, protects LDL particles from oxidation, and may help prevent unwanted blood clotting.
Other health benefits of extra virgin olive oil
Preliminary evidence suggests that olive oil can help fight cancer and Alzheimer's disease, although human studies need to confirm this.
Can you cook with it?
Overall, olive oil seems to be very safe even for cooking at a fairly high heat.
The bottom line
Olive oil is super healthy. For those who have heart disease or are at a high risk of developing it, olive oil is most definitely a superfood. However, be sure to purchase extra virgin olive oil that hasn't been diluted with cheaper oils. The benefits of this wonderful fat are among the few things that most people in nutrition agree upon."
The above words are just a snippet from Kris Gunnars original article, which can be seen in full with all information and research links here
Do you like to use extra virgin olive oil?
All the best Jan
43 comments:
...its name has always interested me.
I love this post and Olive oil is my favorite to use!
Thank you~
Good article, this is indeed a super food. Valerie
I didnt'know all this but I did know it was healthy -- and my fave fat to use!
Thanks for this information, I do use olive oil regularly.
We do use it. Regularly.
We use alot of olive oil! I think I cook almost everything with it, from scrambled eggs to chicken.
I love Olive Oil!
It's well worth reading this book. https://www.amazon.com/Extra-Virginity-Sublime-Scandalous-World/dp/0393343618/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=extra+virginity&qid=1572468542&sr=8-1
I always cook with EVO which is from Palestine and I buy it from Zatoun, a Canadian charity.
We use this all the time.
Lot of good information in this post! Yes, I do use extra virgin olive oil.
Thanks for your visit and comment on my blog
Brilliant post and fabulous information, trying to play 'catch up' after being away.xx
Extra-virgin olive oil and butter are the only oils I use. (As you may have noticed from the recipes I post on my blog! lol)
Quite informative!
Something I grew up with and something I continue to use :)
I should start using it...
Hi Jan,
Olive Oil is great and I use it a lot. We are lucky to have some olive trees that we harvest the olives off and take them to a place that presses them. Some years we get about 12 bottles which is lovely.
Hope your week is going well
hugs
Carolyn
Yay, fat! :)
Good article. We use a lot of here it - we just bought a new bottle of virgin olive oil which we needed for cooking and I pour a small jar full and take to my bathroom for my face. I use it instead of over the counter stuff. Also coconut oil. Seems to work so far - but I'm still getting old!;)
Thumbs up on this.
Coffee is on
Always great to read your articles Jan. Yes, we always buy the extra virgin olive oil ... for health reasons and also to support our Australian olive oil industry.
Yes, we use it, too, though Hubby can have it only cold.
You are right, I love it, pure olive oil.
Azeite um produto de muita qualidade e bastante saudável, aproveito para desejar a continuação de uma boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Thank you reminding us Jan. And stressing how very healthy it is.
I use olive oil but not for cooking. Someone told me that was a waste of good oil. Maybe I should change my habits.
I use extra virgin olive oil as my cooking oil almost all the time.
I recently became aware though that many farms harvest the olives in ways that mean millions of birds in WEurope die. So it's important to find an olive oil that is bird friendly, which is difficult. I blogged about it here https://craftygreenpoet.blogspot.com/2019/07/searching-for-bird-friendly-olive-oil.html
I had heard that extra virgin olive oil had some health benefits, but I hadn't realised quite how many!
WOW...it is really amazing, isn't it!
I usually cook with rapeseed oil, but now I will definitely switch!
Thank you so much!😊😊
Have a great Halloween 🎃🎃🎃
Hugs xxx
Being Portuguese it's the oil of choice for everything, as we have great tasting olive oil.
Thanks for the info Jan.
Por aquà siempre usamos aceite de oliva, las tenemos muy buenas algunas ganaron premios de las mejores del mundo. Besos.
I only use extra virgin olive oil from the US. I read that it is more pure than some imported oils.
Great article. Thanx Jan.
God bless.
I've used it for years, the best I can afford. And we use it for dipping oil for breads instead of butter. I've even begun using it in my favorite way of preparing steel cut oats for oatmeal, Martha Stewart's recipe for stirring the oats in hot butter in the pan before adding water. Well, I admit I still have to add a pat of Irish butter for flavor.
Interesting. I love the extra virgin olive oil.
Great post, Jan! I do not cook with any oil though we eat lots of olives:)
I use extra virgin olive oil and cold pressed sunflower oil
My BIL does the shopping in his family..He apparently got the wrong Olive oil last week..He and my sister were having a small argument about olive oils..He was saying that they are all the same..My sister said it had to be Extra virgn..I just sent him this post..Thanks..
Jan, I rarely use any fats other than carefully sourced extra virgin olive oil and organic unsalted butter. I cook with it as well and don't consider it at all to be "a waste of good oil" as a previous commenter mentioned she'd been told.
I love olive oil, good to know, thank you!
Very good post.
Here we use olive oil;
Thank you for your visit and comment.
Have a nice November entry.
PEACE AND GOOD.
Janicce.
Great post about olive oil ^_^
Happy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
We use extra virgin olive oil for cooking just about everything. The only thing I can think of that we use a different oil for is popcorn (olive oil makes it taste strange)!
Hi, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the blog, it is very informative and knowledgeable. I love to read such stuff, one such article I came across about TNW-The Natural Wash...
Amirta | Few Important Things About Cold Pressed Oils You Should Know
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