In an ideal world, every kitchen would contain at least one bottle of olive oil. Olive oil is commonly used in Mediterranean countries. It is no coincidence that people in countries like Italy, Greece, Spain, and Turkey have comparatively high average life expectancy.
In the last century, the health benefits of olive oil have received scientific confirmation and have been recognized throughout the world. Regularly consuming olive oil offers numerous health benefits. In addition, olive oil can be used as a beauty product for the hair, nails, and skin.
1. Excellent Heart Health
Why is olive oil so good for human health? One of the essential health benefits of olive oil is protection against heart disease, as it is an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids. It has more monounsaturated fatty acids than any other cooking oil. Monounsaturated fatty acids are excellent for heart health.
They reduce levels of harmful LDL cholesterol while increasing the amount of beneficial HDL cholesterol. Olive oil is also packed with polyphenols and antioxidant vitamins A and E. These antioxidants help to neutralize the damaging impact of free radicals on the body. Hence, regularly consuming olive oil may help fight cancer and slow the signs of aging.
This is because olive oil reduces inflammation, a key factor in cardiovascular disease. It also improves blood vessel health and helps to prevent unwanted blood clotting that can contribute to heart attack and stroke. Moreover, increased consumption of olive oil may be associated with lower blood pressure, which may help prevent heart disease. As a result, consuming more than half a tablespoon of this product with health benefits daily is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease death.
2. Olive Oil Contains Large Amounts of Antioxidants
Extra virgin olive oil is very nutritious. In addition to essential fatty acids, it contains vitamins K and E, as well as powerful antioxidants, which reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases. Also, they fight inflammation and protect blood cholesterol from oxidation, helping to prevent heart disease.
3. Olive Oil Can Help Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease when healthy cells of the body are affected, and joints are destroyed when the immune system fails. Therefore, treating rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most essential health benefits of olive oil.
Adding olive oil to dishes helps reduce the oxidative process and reduces inflammation. In addition, doctors advise combining it with fish oil, a cocktail that strengthens the joints, relieves pain, and reduces hand stiffness in arthritis.
4. Olive Oil Is Not Associated With Weight Gain and Obesity
Olive oil is a necessary product for a person, which contains healthy fats and various essential substances that promote weight loss.
When losing weight, olive oil helps to normalize metabolic processes, improves the functioning of the digestive system, and fills the body with vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids necessary for its full-fledged work. Healthy digestive organs are the first key to weight loss. Regular use of oil for 3-4 weeks activates all processes and accelerates weight loss.
5. Olive Oil Has Antibacterial Properties
Another one of the most significant health benefits of olive oil is that this product can be classified as one of the most affordable and effective means to combat various infections and bacteria. Olive oil reduces the risk of infection and has a powerful bactericidal effect. In addition, olive oil inhibits harmful bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori, which often causes stomach ulcers.
6. You Can Find it Everywhere
You can find olive oil at any supermarket or grocery store. It is worth investing in extra virgin olive oil because it contains more monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. There are many different ways to use this product in cooking.
You can use it instead of butter or other cooking oils when frying food. You can also use olive oil to make many traditional Mediterranean meals. Italian pesto sauce, for example, contains a significant amount of olive oil. You can add olive oil to make your own salad dressing.
7. Improves Skin and Hair Look
Simply consuming a diet rich in olive oil will improve the look of your skin and hair. However, you can also get the beauty benefits from this product without ingesting it. Olive oil is unique because it contains a large number of moisturizing ingredients. That’s why so many high-end beauty products list olive oil as one of the main ingredients. If you want to save money, you might wish to consider making your own olive oil beauty products at home.
8. Moisturizer for Your Skin
You can use olive oil to moisturize your skin and prevent skin aging due to vitamin E, which neutralizes the effects of free radicals, which cause the skin to fade faster and wrinkles to appear. In addition, vitamins A and D contained in the oil are involved in the renewal of the epidermis, reduce the number of dead skin particles, and carotene protects the skin from UV rays.
If you have a patch of dehydrated skin, massage a little olive oil directly onto the area you wish to treat. To moisturize, add a tablespoon of olive oil to your bathwater. Consider adding a few drops of your favorite aromatherapy oil to your bath for a more relaxing experience.
In addition, if you want to moisturize your face, you can use olive oil to make your own face mask. You’ll need to combine olive oil with two teaspoons of raw honey and egg yolk. Leave the mask on your face for fifteen minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
9. Moisturizer for Your Hair
You can use olive oil on your hair to add moisture. Doing this will make your hair shine and eliminate frizz. Fatty acids and vitamins in the composition of olive oil have a positive effect on the hair shaft, nourishing and giving shine and elasticity. Also, thanks to its rich vitamin composition, it protects and restores hair. So it is not surprising that olive oil is often included in hair care products, particularly masks.
There are two ways of using olive oil to moisturize your hair and scalp. First, you can heat some olive oil and massage it into your hair and scalp. Then, leave the oil on your hair for one hour before shampooing it out. Alternatively, make a hair conditioner using lemon juice, olive oil, and egg yolk. Once again, it is a good idea to leave the conditioner in your hair for a while before rinsing it out.
10. Improves the Look and Feel of Your Hands
Remember that the hands give out a woman’s age. Fortunately, you can use olive oil to improve the look and feel of your hands. Apply a generous amount of olive oil to your hands before putting on cotton gloves. Wear gloves overnight. It doesn’t smell very appealing, but you’ll be surprised how soft your hands feel the next day. This method is especially effective in winter when not all creams can give the desired result.
You can also use olive oil to soften your cuticles and strengthen your fingernails. To do this, combine a couple of tablespoons of olive oil with the juice from one lemon. Then, soak your fingernails in the mixture for ten minutes. The skin on your fingers will instantly soften, allowing you to remove excess skin from your finger yourself. Thanks to these benefits of olive oil, your hands will always look nice and young.
Below, we have compiled a list of the most interesting questions about the benefits of olive oil:
