Olive oil, a very basic component of the Mediterranean diet, is a gift of God to people. People understood this very early. The Greek Goddess Athena was the goddess of wisdom and her holy tree was the olive tree. Today science gradually discovers its powers, and the powers of the Med diet in general, but the ancient Greeks had it in their diet for thousands of years. It has been revealed that Olive oil is a powerful weapon available to us to protect our body and health.
What are those components that make olive oil such a powerful ally in the war against disease and aging? Olive oil reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. It is rich in antioxidants (phenols) and monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid). It helps to reduce the concentration and the oxidation of bad LDL cholesterol in the blood. This eliminates the risk of atherosclerosis, stenosis and occlusion of vital arteries. It can also prevent creating dangerous blood clots by reducing the risk of myocardial infarction, thrombosis and stroke.
The effect of olive oil against cancer is of great interest. Research has shown that olive oil may prevent the genesis and progress of cancer. It appears that oleic acid in olive oil may suppress the HER-2 oncogene, a gene that has the potential to cause cancer, involved in aggressive breast cancers. The anticancer activity is due to the antioxidant phenols and monounsaturated fatty acids. Olive oil protects the DNA of cells from metabolic oxidative damage is a cause of cancer.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in oil and it increases our lifetime. Fifty years ago, it was confirmed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, whole grains, nuts and fish but low in animal fats, offers longevity with less heart problems. This is what is today known as the Mediterranean, Med, diet.
How does olive oil help in the suppression of pain and the fight against aging? The antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids protect DNA from oxidative damages. These damages increase and grow over time and these are causes of cancer and aging.
New research revealed that olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties similar to known pain-relieving drugs. Olive oil is different from other vegetable oils. It is not produced from seeds but it is the juice from the fruit of the tree. It does not undergo any other processing such as vegetable oils. The juice from the olive, olive oil has many beneficial substances.
The virgin oil and especially the extra virgin olive oil are richer in beneficial, protective elements for humans. The actions of olive oil against heart attack, stroke, thrombosis, cancer, aging and pain should be of particular interest to us. However it should be noted that Olive oil is rich in calories and thus care is needed in the amount consumed. Over consumption, could lead to unwanted weight gain and obesity.
Olive oil is a powerful weapon that we must use properly in a healthy diet.
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