Health Benefits Of Olive Oil

Question: Do olives have any of the same health benefits of olive oil? I realize that olives are very high in fat and in sodium, and that the sodium, in particular, is not healthy. Olive oil is high in fat (the good kind) but has no sodium, so is obviously a good choice in a health-conscious diet. But do olives themselves offer any benefit from having the same kind of good fat that's in olive oil??

Answer: Olive Oil (extra virgin) is better for you than olives. Olive oil reduces the lipoprotein ('bad' cholesterol) level in your blood, and keeps cholesterol from sticking to the walls of your arteries, thus assisting in fighting against diseases such as heart disease and strokes. Additionally, olive oil helps to control blood sugar, helping to combat the onset of diabetes. Many use olive oil to prevent skin damage, and to ensure healthier hair. Olives contain fenol-like substances, which are thought to aid in the prevention and cure of thrombosis and arteriosclerosis. Olives are rich in Vitamins (particularly Vitamin E), minerals, monounsaturated fats, and anti-oxidants, and thus help to prevent cancer, arthritis, osteoprosis, constipation, inflammation and asthma. Hope this helps! God bless.

Question: I hear a lot about the health benefits of olive oil. How can I increase the amount that I eat? Also, all dishes I read about that call for olive oil, call for Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Who uses the other types of olive oil and what is it used for?

Answer: Olive oil is considered a heart healthy oil. However, too much of any oil is bad for you. Olive oil, like any other oil still contains a good amount of fats. Just try to stick to a small amount of Olive Oil each day, do not overdo. Along side that eat healthy foods, because eating just olive oil alone will not help. Here is an article that might help. http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061014/food.asp

Question: what are the health benefits of olive oil? i am italian and have heard all my life that olive oil is very good for you. i use it about 3-5 times a week for cooking and in salads. i only use "first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil." my father told me that was the best. how much truth is there to this?

Answer: It has monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are good for your heart.

Question: What are the health benefits of consuming olive oil? Olive oil has a very high amount of fat. I read on the label of this oil that I have that is has 14 grams of fat per tablespoonfull! But from what I gather, this fat is actually good fat. Is that true? What kind is it? What are the health benefits of consuming olive oil? Is there a limit? How much is too much?

Answer: Olive oil is a good type of fat. Its best to take 2 tbsp. daily. A few of the benefits it's known for are lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure, protecting against colon, breast and skin cancers and reducing the incidence of gallstones. Olive oil is not hydrogenated oil. Hydrogenation creates dangerous trans-fats found in margarine and many other packaged foods.oleic acid (omega 9) makes up 55 - 85 percent of the fatty acids in olive oil. Studies have shown that people who consumed 25 milliliters(about 2 tbsp.) of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood. EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers are discovering has excellent health benefits.

Question: Olive oil health benefits? What re the health benefits of olive oil? I got it on my subway sandwhich yesterday and dont really know why haha.

Answer: s doctors said, prevention is number one factor for good health. Speaking as simple as we can and without the use of special medical terms we must point out the following: 1.Many diseases are caused by the incontrollable receipt of food, especially food containing in excess saturated fatty acids (animal fats), leading to arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Medical studies indicate that Mediterranean countries and specifically Greece, where olive oil consumption is high, suffer less cardiovascular problems from any other country in the world where the ratio of the consumption of animal fat is high or simply the nutrition parameters are poor. By reducing the animal fats and increasing olive oil in our diet we obtain a perfect combination for the prevention of such fatal diseases, like arteriosclerosis and heart attacks. 2.The problems in bile area torture millions of people on our planet. The bad function of the bile and the formation of gallstone are problems difficult to cure and most of the times medical surgery is the only solution available. Recent medical studies proved that olive oil, perfectly compatible with human body needs, creates a natural tie to those liquids that result in the formation of the gallstone mitigating pain and annoyance in bile's area. 3.Millions of people around the world suffer by stomach problems and related diseases. Very serious is the gastric ulcer disease. As it is known the use of olive oil in nutrition is a beneficial factor for the function of the digestive system due to its property of keeping low the percentage of HCl in our stomach. Thus, the olive oil helps the normal function of the digestive system reducing to minimum the chances of ulcer creation and the other relative diseases, not to mention that is the best natural medicament for the fight against constipation.

Question: What are the health benefits of olive oil?

Answer: Olive oil contains a series of compounds that are very beneficial to most functions of the human body and its' biological and therapeutic value is related in many aspects to its chemical structure. The first aspect is its triglyceride composition, made up of fatty acids. Olive oil has a prevalence of monounsaturates, oleic acid principally, while animal fats are fundamentally made up of saturated fatty acids and seed oils of polyunsaturates. Monounsaturated fatty acids are much more stable. Olive oil also has a low percentage of polyunsaturates and this is important because these kind of fatty acids cannot be synthesized by the body. The second aspect is in its minor components. The most salient ones are the tocopherols and polyphenols. These components have a major antioxidant function and are closely connected with virgin olive oils because refining processes alter and remove them. Extra-virgin olive oil is the most digestible of the edible fats and: it helps to assimilate vitamins A, D and K; it contains essential acids that cannot be produced by our own bodies; it slows down the aging process; it helps bile, liver and intestinal functions. The ancient Greeks were in the habit of consuming 1-2 spoonfuls of olive oil every morning. It was a matter of hygienic practice which helped deal with simple chronic constipation and with stomach ulcers. Now, in spite of the advancements in modern medicine and pharmacology, this practice is recommended for its positive influence on the digestion. It is noteworthy that olive oil has a beneficial effect in the dietary treatment of diabetes. In addition it helps control blood pressure and increases the bone mass. It is believed that olive oil has a favorable effect on the development of the central nervous and vascular systems, in brain development as well as normal child development. The human body easily absorbs olive oil. This means that the body absorbs the good ingredients such as vitamin E and phenols, which have anti-oxidizing properties and prevent the oxidization of fatty tissue. Another important element is chlorophyll. Olive oil facilitates the cleansing of the gull bladder. Olive oil is not only easy to digest but it also helps the digestion of other fatty substances because it helps the secretions of the peptic system and stimulates the pancreatic enzyme lipace. A major cause for the degeneration of the cells – and their eventual destruction – is the accumulation of free radicals, which are produced by the oxidization of the fatty tissues in the body. Vitamin E, phenols and other antioxidizing substances protect the human body from the negative effects of free radicals. Olive oil contains a high percentage of phenols and vitamin E and as a result helps delay the aging process. Olive oil consumption has a very positive effect on blood cholesterol. Olive oil limits the oxidizing of bad cholesterol (cause of artillery skilorsus and heart disease) because it is rich in anti-oxidizing agents. More details on the link below...

Question: What health benefits by eating olives and olive oil? ? I eat lots of olives and olive oil and I'm wondering what health benefits it has?

Answer: Olive oil has heart healthy fats. This helps GREATLY to reduce your rish of any cardiovascular disease including heart attacks, stroke, hypertension etc. It's also important for brain function Omega 3 fats are one of the most single important nutrients that are missing in most American diets. Keep on eating that olive oil!

Question: Teaspoon of olive oil daily health benefits? ok so this question is a little strange. My friend's grandmother is part italian and she was told when she was a child to take a teaspoon a day of olive oil for health benefits , and my friend now does the same , but i said i thought it was weird it's only olive oil and it's used for cooking and things but he said its good for your health and im confused so are there any health benefits of olive oil , like shiny hair , nice skin , healthy heart e.t.c just curious thanks woah i guess i was wrong! thanks guys aha i think ill start taking it! lol my friend did warn me though it can be a weird taste lol thanks guys!

Answer: The Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower incidence of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. The apparent health benefits have been partially attributed to the dietary consumption of virgin olive oil by Mediterranean populations. Most recent interest has focused on the biologically active phenolic compounds naturally present in virgin olive oils. Studies (human, animal, in vivo and in vitro) have shown that olive oil phenolics have positive effects on certain physiological parameters, such as plasma lipoproteins, oxidative damage, inflammatory markers, platelet and cellular function, and antimicrobial activity. Presumably, regular dietary consumption of virgin olive oil containing phenolic compounds manifests in health benefits associated with a Mediterranean diet. This paper summarizes current knowledge on the physiological effects of olive oil phenolics. Moreover, a number of factors have the ability to affect phenolic concentrations in virgin olive oil, so it is of great importance to understand these factors in order to preserve the essential health promoting benefits of olive oil phenolic compounds.

Question: health benefits of olive oil? the first thing in the morning a take a tbs. of olive oil followed by 2 glasses of water. is this right or should I change something ?

Answer: Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat which raises your HDL (good cholesterol ) level. Seems like you're doing it right.

Question: Difference between Olive Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Health Benefits? Difference between Olive Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Health Benefits? I know Olive Oil is much better for you than using Vegetable Oil and such, as is Canola Oil also. But I have a jar of Extra Virgin and Reg Olive Oil. Which of those 2 is better for you and what is the difference. Also, what different things do u use both for? Why would a recipe call for a certain kind of Olive Oil? Is there a big taste difference between the two? Thanks!!

Answer: I don't have the two bottles in front of me (we only have extra virgin) but if you look at the nutrition values, look for the monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. The more of these two the better. These are the good fats, while saturated fats are bad and trans-fat is the devil incarnate. Normally olive oil shouldn't have much in the way of these. Ive never noticed a taste difference. This wiki article was pretty informative on uses and nutrition etc.

Question: Is it true that when you cook olive oil it loses all of its health benefits? I was told you only gain full benefits if you use it fresh/raw

Answer: As with any fruit or vegetable, some nutrients are lost in cooking with heat. For the best flavor and health benefits, use 1st press, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. It has a much better flavor, too. Be prepared for the cost, but realize a little goes a long way, and it can be stored in a cool place (hopefully not your refrigerator) for a very long time. Mine never lasts longer than 6 months, since I use it so much. Cooking with olive oil does not require 1st press, in fact doesn't do much good, as it looses flavor. Plain olive oil is fine for cooking and much better for you that saturated fats. For flavor.....drizzle on THE GOOD STUFF.

Question: Why is olive oil said to be good for people? How does it work and what does it do? What are the health benefits of Olive Oil?

Answer: Its not olive oil as such, it it polyunsaturated and monounsaturated oils that are good for you. And olive oil is high in both. These types of oils do not raise cholesterol like saturated oils, and they do not lead to atherosclerosis (plaques on your arteries). However they are just as fattening as every other oil. And they are fine to eat cooked. Olive oil should be used to replace other oils like palm oil, beef tallow, coconut oil and vegetable oil (often its palm oil) which can be high in saturated fats and are often used in pre-prepared foods. It should not be added on top of these foods.

Question: How can I incorporate olive oil into my diet? I like the health benefits from olive oil and I like the taste, but I can't seem to think of any ways to incorporate it into my diet other than pouring some on a salad. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!

Answer: Any time you have a sandwich, instead of using mayo or mustard, use a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. People in Italy love the taste so they even use it on desserts. They will actually drizzle it over ice cream. You can alo find a recipe online for an olive oil cake. Basically anything you need oil for you can use the olive oil. Just remember that extra virgin will begin to smoke and break down at a lower temperature than most other oils so dont fry at high temps if you use extra virgin.

Question: Using olive oil to fry is bad? After reading the health benefits of olive oil, I started deep-frying stuff with olive oil, only to be told by a nutritionist that olive oil shouldn't be heated.

Answer: She is wrong. "Olive Oil, Lower Temperatures Less Toxic in Frying Frying with canola oil releases more toxic fumes into the air than frying with olive oil, according to a new study conducted at the University of Dayton Research Institute. And frying at temperatures higher than 350 F, a common practice in American kitchens, releases higher levels of toxins --significantly higher levels from canola oil --than frying at the recommended 350 degrees. As a result, researchers are recommending frying with olive oil whenever possible and adhering to the 350-degree frying temperature recommended by the International Olive Oil Council. During a three-month visit to the University of Dayton Research Institute, Angel Carbonell Barrachina --a professor of food technology at Universitas Miguel Hernandez in Orihuela, Spain --worked with UDRI researcher Sukh Sidhu and visiting Fulbright Scholar Andres Fullana to collect and analyze emissions from canola oil and two types of olive oil --extra virgin and "lampante" virgin. Lampante, locally known as "regular" olive oil, is chemically processed to remove most flavors from the oil and is typically the most inexpensive of the virgin oils. It's often the choice of chefs who appreciate the health benefits of olive oil, but don't care for the strong taste of extra virgin oil, Carbonell said. The researchers focused on emissions of volatile pollutants, particularly the chemical compounds acetaldehyde and acrolein --both the subject of pollution studies by the EPA. The EPA has declared acetaldehyde a "probable human carcinogen" and acrolein "extremely toxic to humans" and "a possible human carcinogen." (From the "National Air Toxics Program: The Integrated Urban Strategy Report to Congress," 2000.) They cooked the oils for 15 hours at 180 degrees Celsius (or 356 F), and for seven hours at 240 degrees Celsius (or 464 F). At 180 C, canola oil released twice the amount of acetaldehyde as extra virgin olive oil and as much as four times the levels of acetaldehyde emitted from regular olive oil. Acrolein levels emitted at this temperature were five and one-half times higher than from either of the olive oils. At 240 C, canola oil released two and one-half times the amount of acetaldehyde as extra virgin olive oil and as much as five times the levels of acetaldehyde emitted from regular olive oil. Acrolein levels emitted at this temperature were as much as nine times higher than from either of the olive oils. "Those are significant differences, especially at the higher temperature," Carbonell said. "A lot of people fry at the higher temperature, especially when they stir fry. What's important about this research is that we're not talking about toxins being absorbed into the body by ingestion but by breathing them. So they can be harmful to the person who is cooking and others nearby. " Although the researchers used deep-frying techniques to test the oil, Sidhu --a senior research scientist in UDRI's energy and environmental engineering division --said the emissions are just as harmful when using lesser amounts of oil, such as when cooking in a wok. In fact, the UDRI study was prompted by other studies released in the last decade that indicate the air in homes in China is often significantly more polluted than the air outside. Those studies also attribute toxins from burning coal and cooking oil to greatly increased rates of lung cancer in women in some areas of China. Because of the common practice of cooking with olive oils in Mediterranean countries as well, Carbonell wanted to investigate the toxic properties of fumes from those oils in cooking. "What really surprised us was that there was relatively little difference in the levels of emissions from the two olive oils, either the extra virgin or the plain," Carbonell said. "And olive oil is actually healthier than canola and other oils." The researchers theorize that the inherent antioxidant qualities of olives oils may have prevented fatty acids from breaking down and releasing toxins as quickly as canola oil. Based on the research, Sidhu and Carbonell recommend using olive oil when frying. "It's also very important not to fry oils at temperatures hotter than the recommended temperature of 350 F," Sidhu said. Carbonell, who visited UDRI through a summer faculty research fellowship funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, said he plans to return to UDRI for additional studies on other types of oils and how different foods might effect emissions. "We're also planning to study whether adding antioxidants to oils inhibits the breakdown of fatty acids and release of toxins as they do in olive oils," Carbonell said. Fullana, who just completed his first year of a two-year appointment at UDRI to study how pollution effects the food chain in his homeland of Alicante, Spain, helped conduct the cooking oil research. He and Carbonell specifically requested to conduct their research at UDRI. "Only about 10 research programs for heat and emissions exist in the world, and UDRI has one of the best," Fullana said."

Question: How many Tbsp. of olive oil is a good daily dose for health benefits? I want to add it to my morning fruit shake, but I'm not sure how much to use. Not using enough is a waste, but I don't want to overdo either. Please, only serious answers, ok you guys? Thanks! :)

Answer: to set you and your body up for the day take a tbsp of olive oil on its own before you eat or drink anything.After only drink hot drinks or juice not water .the olive oil will line your stomach.do this every morning. not necessary to add to your shake cause you would have taken it already. if you use it in cooking make sure you don't` burn the oil for instance cooking onions. because you will take the nutrition out of the oil. add to pasta dishes,salads ,rice,soup,yummy in potato instead of butter and better for you. hope i have helped you.i got this info from staying with my relatives who live in Morocco.they say the Mediterraneans are more healthy and now you see why.

Question: Since health experts are touting the benefits of olive oil, should I start using it for things like shampoo? Deodorant? Carpet cleaner? Fuel oil? Floor sanitizer? Cereal additive? Furniture polish? In place of bottled water? In my kid's lunches? Icing on cake? Blimey, I'll be bloody immortal!

Answer: Hmm.....everything covered in olive oil? Sounds like a party to me! I'll bring the Twister mat and some cheap red wine.