Most of us have olive oil stocked in the pantry and why not? It’s great for cooking healthy meals and preparing salads. But aside from these, did you know that olive oil has quite a number of health benefits to offer? As a matter of fact, scientists are still finding new benefits to this oil every day. No wonder it is touted as one of the best oils available.
Truth be told, olive oil is the cornerstone for the Mediterranean Diet and because people are now becoming more aware of the beauty of eating healthy and right, they want to know more about what this wonder oil can do for them. So if you are one of those individuals who haven’t enjoyed the numerous benefits of olive oil, here are some reasons why you should have this around your kitchen.
It can destroy cancer cells. Oleocanthal is a phytonutrient found in olive oil that is believed to reduce inflammation in the body. This can kill off any cancer cells growing inside you thus reducing your risk of breast cancer or even its recurrence. Scientists are still studying lignans, squalene, and other components of olive oil to see what their effects are on cancer.
It promotes weight loss. If you’re looking for help in the weight loss department then you should add olive oil to your diet. Why? Well, if you’re going to look at those living in the Mediterranean who consumes olive oil most of the time, you’ll find that none of them are overweight. Following a diet that makes use of olive oil appears to help keep the weight off far longer compared to other types of diet.
It can reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Health experts often recommend a low-fat diet to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Further studies showed that it’s not the amount of fat consumed that you should be worried about but the type of fat that you are eating. It appears that monounsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, can actually prevent certain types of diseases like diabetes.
It is good for the skin. Another benefit that you can get from olive oil is that it can help fight signs of aging as well as skin damage. It has been proven time and time again that olive oil can make your skin look beautiful regardless of whether you will be consuming the oil or directly applying it on your skin.
It slows down heart aging. It appears that regular consumption of olive oil is actually good for the heart. Our heart tends to age just as we do. The walls of our arteries may start to thin which can put us at risk of various heart problems like stroke and heart attack. Consuming olive oil, on the other hand, has been found to slow down the heart’s aging process especially with the elderly hence their risk of heart disease can be significantly reduced.
