5 Benefits of Olive Oil That Go Beyond Making Your Salads Delicious

Olive oil is the most widely-used cooking oil in the world, and for good reason: it has many health benefits that go beyond making your salads delicious. In this article, we explore 5 of the most common ways that olive oil can improve your health and reduce your risk of serious diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

1) The Antioxidants in Olive Oil Help Protect your Cells from Damage

Olive oil is a healthy fat that has been shown to be protective against heart disease and some cancers. The antioxidants in olive oil help protect your cells from damage, so including it in your diet can go a long way.

A study from Loma Linda University found that women who consumed olive oil were less likely to die from heart disease and stroke than women who consumed little to no olive oil. Additionally, a meta-analysis of multiple studies indicated that consuming more virgin or extra-virgin olive oil was linked with lower rates of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, breast cancer and lung cancer.

2) Olive oil can Help Lower your Risk of Heart Disease by Improving Cholesterol Levels and Preventing Inflammation

Olive oil is a staple in the kitchen. And for good reason: it tastes great, and has a lot of benefits! The most well-known benefit of olive oil is that it helps lower your risk of heart disease by improving cholesterol levels and preventing inflammation. Here are five more benefits you may not have known about:

1. It can help you lose weight. 2. It can help improve your skin health. 3. It promotes healthy digestion, which can reduce bloating and constipation symptoms.

3) Olive oil can Help you Manage your Weight by Making you Feel Full and Reducing Cravings

Olive oil can help you manage your weight by making you feel full and reducing cravings. It can also improve your heart health, relieve joint pain, and make your skin glow. And did we mention that it tastes amazing?

Olive oil is one of nature’s best sources of healthy fats, which are integral to your overall health. MCTs and omega-3 fatty acids found in olive oil can help lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease. Not only that, but extra virgin olive oil (the kind you should be using!) can help you manage your weight by making you feel full and reducing cravings.

4) The Anti-inflammatory Properties of Olive oil can Help Reduce the Symptoms of Arthritis

Olive oil has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. These are important because they can help reduce the symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. For example, a study in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology found that people with rheumatoid arthritis who took an omega-3 supplement had lower levels of inflammation than those who didn't take one. Plus, it's been shown to have cardiovascular benefits, too—making it a great heart-healthy addition to your diet!

Extra virgin olive oil contains a substance called oleocanthal that has been found to reduce inflammation. In one study, published in September 2016 in Arthritis Research & Therapy , researchers gave people with rheumatoid arthritis either a 1,000mg capsule containing 500mg extra virgin olive oil daily or a placebo pill every day for two weeks. After two weeks, people who took the extra virgin olive oil had a significant reduction in markers of inflammation compared to those who didn't.

5) Olive oil can also help Improve cognitive Function and Prevent Age-related Cognitive Decline

Olive oil is one of the healthiest fats you can eat. It contains a healthy mix of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats are good for your heart and may also help improve cognitive function and prevent age-related cognitive decline. A study in Greece found that people who consumed more olive oil had a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

What’s more, olive oil is good for your brain even when you’re young. A study found that adults with low blood levels of monounsaturated fat performed worse on cognitive tests than adults with higher levels. It could be due to lower concentrations of cholesterol in their blood. Cholesterol is needed to make important molecules called sphingolipids, which are part of a healthy brain cell membrane and play an important role in protecting nerve cells from damage.