Benefits of Olive Oil

In the culinary world, the olive has hundreds of health advantages. For centuries, it has been used extensively in cooking in many homes from the fabled Greeks land to the burning sands of North Africa; from the Mediterranean kitchens to the desert dunes of the Middle East. Only in the last decade or two, has the important health benefit of olive oil come to ‘light’ in the West, and with health concerns on the rise, a massive change signalled a new era in healthy food being served to consumers across the United States.

No doubt consumers do need to demand healthier options; our work, education, mental growth and our life depend on the types of food we eat. In the case of olive oil, it has numerous such advantages for our health, containing vitamins A, B-1, B-2, C, D and Iron, as well as helping to maintain strong levels of Vitamin E in the body. It is known to be well tolerated by the stomach and has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Studies have also shown that those who consume approximately two tbsp of olive oil a day for one week, resulted in their bodies showing less oxidation of LDL cholesterol* and a higher level of polyphenols, an antioxidant compound in the blood that helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and the risk of coronary heart disease. There are more digestive as well as applicative benefits – a quick search on the internet can list numerous such advantages.

Should you decide to purchase olive oil, and I strongly recommend that you do, know that they come in a few choices: extra virgin, virgin, pure, and extra light. High quality extra virgin olive oil is the best as it comes from the first ‘pressing’ of the olive; pure, unrefined, healthy. Stay away from light olive oil as much as possible. In cooking, do not use it for high heat as it tends to burn the many health benefits found in the oil. For your every day sautéing, curries, lightly fried foods, or just dipping freshly baked bread, make sure it’s the best option: extra virgin olive oil. To store the golden rich liquid, keep it away from heat and light, sealed tightly in a container.

Olive oil is also known to be quite expensive in general, but we all know ‘prevention is better than cure’, and so what are a few extra shillings compared to large medical bills?

It is not surprising that even the major scriptures, the Bible and the Holy Qur’an, contain verses of the blessed olive tree in interesting formations. One such mention is of a certain ‘light’; after all, only God knows how to shed brightness to His creations.

*LDL cholesterol is termed the ‘bad’ cholesterol, which carries cholesterol from the liver cells to cells around the body using the arteries, which in turn increases the risk of cholesterol build up. HDL, or the ‘good’ cholesterol does exactly the opposite, balancing the human system thus avoiding unnecessary heart failures and artery build up.