The olive tree and its fruit have a long history, with the ancients considering it a cure-all for all ailments. Over the last few times, there has been an incredible quantity of study on its advantages. Olive oil offers therapeutic capabilities and significant potential to improve our body’s functioning on a higher level of health. These advantages are categorized as follows:
1. For children
Olive oil promotes their growth in numerous ways, including by assisting in the formation of stronger cell walls, which results in stronger tissues and bones. It stimulates cognitive development, increases cerebral growth, and even aids in the reduction of ADHD symptoms. Children who drink olive oil on a daily basis are less likely to become fat and acquire chronic disorders.
2. To benefit the heart
Olive oil use reduces the risk of mortality in those with advanced heart disease by nearly half. This is due to the fact that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is abundant in antioxidants (Polyphenols), which aid in the removal of blocking buildup from our artery walls. The HDL in our blood is required for a healthy heart, and olive oil helps to maintain blood vessels elastic and pliable for proper blood flow.
3. To aid digestion
Olive oil consumption modifies our gut flora in a positive way, increasing those strains that support gut and brain health and immunity. This improves nutrient digestion and absorption while also healing “leaky gut” conditions. Olive oil promotes the synthesis of peptides, which help in digestion. According to research, it can even reverse fatty liver and is extremely good for proper liver function. EVOO regulates gastric acid production, alleviating acidity and soothing the gut, and because we eat more slowly when olive oil is present, the pancreas has to work less hard. It also aids in the regulation of our sensation of satiety,’ which means we feel full sooner after eating.
4. Pain control
Women who use olive oil on a daily basis report a reduction in the severity of menstruation cramps. It can actually assist with practically any form of pain, including arthritis. This advantage is aided by oleocanthal, a chemical found exclusively in the finest extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Its mechanism of action has been similar to that of ibuprofen.
5. Other applications
Olive oil has a significant value in massage. Massage is very effective for pain alleviation. Olive oil combined with salt is a traditional cure for joint problems and improves the appearance of the skin young. In one study, olive oil administered topically to mice with skin malignancies resulted in considerable tumor remission.
Which olive oil is the best?
The majority of the trials employed high-quality EVOO with high phenolic content. By definition, EVOO is cold-pressed and has never been heated. This is more pricey, but it is well worth it as a health investment. On the bottle, look for the International Olive Oil Council stamp. An impermeable dark glass container keeps harmful UV rays and oxygen out.
How much should you eat for good health?
For the best benefit, consume one to four teaspoons per day, unheated (not for cooking), raw. It may be combined with dishes such as salads and dips. To get a proper balance of essential fatty acids, combine EVOO or even virgin olive oil with other cold-pressed organic oils such as coconut, sesame, and mustard oils. These three have also been subjected to extensive testing, and they have therapeutic powers. The added benefit is that they may be heated and hence used for cooking.
Purity testing
Because olive oil is easily falsified and the business is plagued by even significant firms doing so, we must use a simple test to determine whether our purchase is trustworthy. Refrigerate the bottle for a day. Pure olive oil noticeably thickens and gets hazy. If there is no change, it includes adulterant oils.
