Olive oil health effects
Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, a great antioxidant. Experts believe that those antioxidants help human cells fight off cancer. In doing so, they fortify the cells and thus, slow down deterioration that accompanies the aging process since the cells are healthier and live longer.
Olive oil has been shown to reduce the normal wear and tear of aging on the tissues and organs of the body and the brain. And there may be more to the connection between olives and longevity because olive trees themselves have been known to survive for 3,000 years or longer!
Olive oil has been shown to reduce gastric acidity. It protects against ulcers and aids the passage of food through the intestines, thus helping to prevent constipation. It stimulates bile secretion and provokes contraction of the gallbladder, reducing the risk of gallstones. Since olive oil contains vitamin E and oleic acid, it aids normal bone growth and is most suitable for both expectant and nursing mothers because it encourages development of the infant's nervous system before and after birth.
Since olive oil works wonders at blocking the tendency of blood to clot, improving good HDL cholesterol levels and reducing the dangerous buildup of bad cholesterol in arteries, some experts now strongly recommend olive oil as an excellent way to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Physicians in Spain give heart surgery patients 4-5 tablespoons of olive oil per day as part of their recovery process. Within six months, patients in one study showed so much improvement that they were deemed less susceptible to future heart attacks and strokes than patients who had not had the oil.
The University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas also reported that the mono unsaturated fats in olive oil dramatically lowered and favorable altered blood cholesterol. In tests on middle-aged people, olive oil reduced all blood cholesterol by 13% and the dangerous LDL cholesterol by an amazing 21% !
University of Kentucky researchers found that as little as 2/3 of a tablespoon a day reduced blood pressure in men by 5 systolic points and four diastolic points.
Caution: Olive oil has a slight laxative effect. So add it to your diet gradually. Tip: The more pure the Olive oil, the better. Spend a little extra and get Virgin Olive Oil.