The Wonders of Olive Oil

The Benefits of Olive Oil, which is also one of the main components in the Mediterranean Diet, has quite a serious effect on our bodies. If you care enough about your health you might just want to make olive oil your new best friend. Let’s start off by introducing the different kinds of olive oil:

• Pure Olive Oil: There is processing involved when making this kind of olive oil
• Virgin Olive Oil: The ‘second pressing’ in making this kind of olive oil
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The ‘first pressing’ of the olives and the least processed and healthiest out of all the olive oils
• Extra Light Olive Oil: There is more processing involved than the pure olive oil and contains a light olive flavor

Olive Oil is a very important monounsaturated fat source, in fact, according to the American Heart Association; over half of the fat calories incorporated into the Mediterranean diet come from monounsaturated fats. This is due to the olive oil in the Mediterranean Diet. Monounsaturated fat is classified as a ‘good fat’ and doesn't raise blood cholesterol levels the way saturated fat does. The key to staying healthy is to replace the bad fats with the good fats.

Bad fats, which include LDL cholesterol, leads to heart disease and certain types of cancer, monounsaturated fats, which are good, lower total cholesterol and increase HDL (the good cholesterol) which help with weight loss and has a significant influence on individuals with heart disease. Studies have shown that individuals who consumed virgin olive oil everyday showed less LDL cholesterol in their system and more antioxidants. This is definitely a good thing because antioxidants are molecules that protect your cells and help make your everyday life healthier.

All types of olive oil are beneficial to ones health but the cream of the crop is extra virgin olive oil. There are higher levels of antioxidants in extra virgin because they come from the first pressing of the olives which is pure of no chemicals. The main antioxidant that is present in olive oil is Vitamin E. The benefits of Vitamin E start from the inside out; According to the National Institutes of Health Vitamin E may help prevent coronary heart disease, Vitamin E is the antioxidant in Olive oil that may help prevent heart attacks due to its prevention of forming blood clots and Vitamin E is said to help protect cell membranes against “damaging effects of free radicals, which may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer.” Even less serious situations that Vitamin E helps us with is in our beauty regimen. If you’re looking for clear skin, healthy bones, and strong nails, Vitamin E is your power antioxidant.

For more information on Olive Oil, check out this website: http://www.oliveoilsource.com/oliveoildr-heart.htm. Here you can for example get more information on heart disease and olive oil, effects on blood pressure, good fats vs. bad fats, information on how olive oil can have an impact on one who may be prone to heart attacks, and how they can take effect on your very own bones and prevent ulcers.