Olive oil is a major part of a Mediterranean diet as it is loaded with antioxidants. The main fat consists of monounsaturated fatty acids or MUFAs which is deemed a healthy fat. The antioxidants help in protecting your body from cellular damage that can cause a number of diseases. Extra virgin olive oil is bitter in taste but has more antioxidants than other types as it goes through the least processing.
Olive oil is derived from olives, the fruit of olive tree. The olives are a traditional crop of the Mediterranean countries. Olive oil is made by pressing the whole olives. It is used in cooking, medicines, cooking, soaps and lighting the traditional lamps. In the Mediterranean diet, people store olives in olive oil or salted water. Then they eat them whole or chopped or then put as a topping on pizzas and other dishes as well. They also use olive oil dip for bread, for pizza drilling, in cooking or as salad dressing. Some use it for medicinal purposes too.
Health Benefits
Many studies have noticed the health benefits of using olive oil. The best available oil is the extra virgin olive oil, loaded with antioxidants that protects you from cellular damage being caused by molecules called free radicals. They refer to substances that the body emits during metabolism and other processes too. The antioxidants tend to neutralize free radicals. Over accumulation of them can cause oxidative stress which can cause cell damage and sometimes even certain kinds of cancer.
The cardiovascular system
Olive oil is the main part of any Mediterranean diet. People who take this diet have higher life expectancy and fewer odds of dying from cardiovascular diseases. Even the FDA approves to consume at least 20 grams or 2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil every day to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Apart from this, olive oil also protects you from atherosclerosis, cancer and brain dysfunction. Polyphenols are a kind of antioxidant.
Metabolic syndrome
This is a condition which is caused by a group of risk factors that raises the odds of obesity, high BP and high blood sugar levels. Studies have proven that olive oil can reduce the risk and/or improve the symptoms of metabolic syndrome like blood sugar, inflammation, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol. It increases the level of good cholesterol in the body.
