Love olive oil
There are many reasons to love my favorite fat---olive oil. It can reduce silent inflammation, the root cause of chronic disease, as well as boost overall immunity to allergies.
You’re probably thinking but how can this be true. Isn’t fat bad for you? The truth is our bodies need healthy fats, such as olive oil, to perform many functions for good health. Our brains are 60 percent fat. Our cells are encased in fat. If we avoid fat, we fail to replenish essential nutrients needed by the body.
Not all fats are created equally. Omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturated fats are essential. They are not produced by the body. We must get them from our diet as they are a significant part of almost all cell membranes.
Olive oil, my favorite, along with flaxseed oil, coconut oil and ghee, are some of the healthiest fats. Olive oil, however, is in a class by itself. It is neither an omega 3 or 6 but rather an omega 9 with the highest concentration of monounsaturated fats of any edible oil. This makes it one of the healthiest oils there is.
If those aren’t enough reasons, now there is another reason to “hug this healthy fat.” A scientific study done on the island of Crete found that nasal allergies were almost non-existent in this region. The islanders followed the Mediterranean diet which is composed mainly of cold-pressed olive oil, nuts, fish, fruits and vegetables.
Why does the Mediterranean diet have this effect? Fruits and vegetables provide antioxidant support while olive oil is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds. You can lessen your reliance on medications by eating a Mediterranean diet which includes:
•Fruit and vegetables.
•Cold-water fish such as salmon or halibut.
•Cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil.
•Nuts and seeds.
Close adherence to the Mediterranean diet also can benefit those with asthma. Twenty-five percent of participants in a study had well-controlled asthma when they carefully followed the Mediterranean diet.
Eating olive oil may benefit your health in other ways. Researchers studied nearly 7,500 people. The focus of the clinical trial was to assess the cardiovascular benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and olive oil. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups – Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil, Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts, or a regular low-fat diet.
After five years, the researchers had compelling evidence that those who were on either type of Mediterranean diet had better heart health than their counterparts who weren't.
You’re probably thinking but how can this be true. Isn’t fat bad for you? The truth is our bodies need healthy fats, such as olive oil, to perform many functions for good health. Our brains are 60 percent fat. Our cells are encased in fat. If we avoid fat, we fail to replenish essential nutrients needed by the body.
Not all fats are created equally. Omega 3 and 6 polyunsaturated fats are essential. They are not produced by the body. We must get them from our diet as they are a significant part of almost all cell membranes.
Olive oil, my favorite, along with flaxseed oil, coconut oil and ghee, are some of the healthiest fats. Olive oil, however, is in a class by itself. It is neither an omega 3 or 6 but rather an omega 9 with the highest concentration of monounsaturated fats of any edible oil. This makes it one of the healthiest oils there is.
If those aren’t enough reasons, now there is another reason to “hug this healthy fat.” A scientific study done on the island of Crete found that nasal allergies were almost non-existent in this region. The islanders followed the Mediterranean diet which is composed mainly of cold-pressed olive oil, nuts, fish, fruits and vegetables.
Why does the Mediterranean diet have this effect? Fruits and vegetables provide antioxidant support while olive oil is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds. You can lessen your reliance on medications by eating a Mediterranean diet which includes:
•Fruit and vegetables.
•Cold-water fish such as salmon or halibut.
•Cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil.
•Nuts and seeds.
Close adherence to the Mediterranean diet also can benefit those with asthma. Twenty-five percent of participants in a study had well-controlled asthma when they carefully followed the Mediterranean diet.
Eating olive oil may benefit your health in other ways. Researchers studied nearly 7,500 people. The focus of the clinical trial was to assess the cardiovascular benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and olive oil. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups – Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil, Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts, or a regular low-fat diet.
After five years, the researchers had compelling evidence that those who were on either type of Mediterranean diet had better heart health than their counterparts who weren't.
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