Choose Olive oil, the healthy option

Olive oil is a natural juice that preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. It is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit.

Olive oil is good for the heart!

The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidants. Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raising HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels. No other naturally produced oil has as large amount of heart healthy monounsaturated fats as olive oil.

Olive oil is good for the stomach!

The stomach tolerates olive oil very well. Its protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis and lowers the incidence of gallstone formation.

Olive oil is good for overall health!

Clearly one of the good oils, olive oil is known as a “healing fat”. Studies have shown that virgin olive oil contains antioxidants which protect you against colon, breast and skin cancer, heart disease and also has an anti-aging role.

Varieties of Olive oil:

Olive oil comes in numerous varieties depending on the amount of processing involved. Some of them are:

• Extra virgin: Considered the best and least processed, this oil is extracted from the first pressing of the olives.
• Virgin: Taken from the second pressing of the olives.
• Pure/Light: This oil undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining and thus is a lesser grade olive oil. It is widely available in supermarkets and labeled as just ‘olive oil’.
• Extra light: Undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavor.

How to store olive oil?

Olive oil should be kept in a cool and dark place and tightly sealed. Like any other oil, it can easily go rancid when exposed to air, light or high temperatures.

Can you cook in olive oil? Because of all its health benefits, it is good to cook in Olive oil but it is not recommended for deep-frying.

When buying olive oil you will want to obtain high quality flavorful Extra virgin olive oil.
It is true that olive oil is very healthy but at the same time it is high in calories, so use it in moderation.