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10 Best Uses and Benefits of Olive Oil You Must Know

Here in this article, we will know about 10 best uses and benefits of olive oil. Olive oil uses has rapidly become one of the favorite oils, owing to its multiple benefits. The secrets of Mediterranean recipes gradually unleashed. The olive oil benefits are multiple and versatile.  It has tremendous health and healing properties when compared to similar counterparts. All the benefits attributed to fatty acids and nutritional values. Let us explore 10 Best Uses and Benefits of Olive Oil and also about what type of olive oil is best for cooking!

Benefits of Olive Oil You Must Know:

1. A High Proportion of Monounsaturated Fats and Fatty Acids:

As we all know, olive oil is a natural extract from the fatty Olive fruits.  The oil contains 24 % saturated fat, Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.

However, the predominant fatty acid presents in olive oil are unsaturated fat at 73 %.  It is also called oleic acid.

  • Monounsaturated fats help to reduce the inflammation in and out
  • Many studies found the beneficial effects of oleic acid towards genes that are likely to cause cancer.
  • It has very high resistance to extreme heat which makes a better olive oil for cooking.

2. Helps Regulating Cholesterol:

Increase HDL and reduce LDL

Cholesterol is not bad at all. In fact, there are two types of cholesterol namely HDL and LDL.

  • HDL means high-density lipoprotein
  • LDL means low-density lipoprotein

These lipoproteins are responsible for the formation of cells.

LDL is bad cholesterol.  LDL contributes to fatty buildup in the arteries, which narrows the arteries veins and blood vessels.  Eventually, a high amount of LDL the bloodstream increases the risk of heart disease.

HDL is good cholesterol.  It aids in the prevention of narrowing the blood vessels. According to health experts and physicians, HDL is a scavenger.  It removes away the LDL from arteries and sends it back to the liver.  The liver helps to break down the LDL and dispelled from the body.

Higher is the level of HDL lower is the risk of heart diseases.  Olive oil helps you increase the HDL level and reduce the LDL level.

[Related: Mix Lemon Juice and Olive Oil for Amazing Benefits]

3. Olive Oil is Healthy Fat:

There are a lot of disagreements about using fat in a diet.  Fat is an essential nutrient that regulates many vital functions in the body.

Of course, there are two types of fat healthy fat and unhealthy fat.

Olive oil is full of healthy fats that do no harm. It is only too many carbs and triglycerides affect your body.  You need the healthy fats for younger and supple skin; proper functions of the brain and internal organs and many more.

4. Olive Oil Protects your Heart Health:

Many studies revealed a shocking fact that Heart Attack is a major cause of death across the world. Quite a few extensive researches conducted a few years back revealed a surprising element that heart disease is an uncommon problem in the Mediterranean area.  So when you probe into the study you will understand that the Mediterranean diet is a major reason.

Apparently, usage of extra virgin olive oil is the key element of the Mediterranean diet, which protects the heart and prevents all the heart diseases.  It promotes the heart health in a number of ways

  • reduces inflammation
  • prevent oxidation damage
  • control and prevent unwanted blood clotting
  • help increase in good cholesterol and  lowest the bad cholesterol  levels
  • enhance the blood vessel functions

Beyond this, regular consumption of olive oil also significantly lowers the blood pressure level.  Hope you can remember that blood pressure is the major trigger of cardiac problems.

If there is a history of heart disease in your family or if you pose any health risk due to pressure or cholesterol level you can immediately switch to using extra virgin olive oil.

[Also Read: Heart Attack Symptoms Warning Signs you Should Never Ignore]

5. Olive Oil has an Abundance of Antioxidants:

Olive oil has fair proportions of nutrients and fatty acids.  Apart from this, it is abundantly loaded with antioxidants. The antioxidant component helps to battle against serious diseases.  It prevents aging science internally and externally.  It also treats and prevents oxidation damages to cells and tissues.

Two vital benefits of antioxidant content in olive oil include,

  • fight the inflammation in cell level and tissue level
  • prevents the cholesterol from becoming oxidized

Both of this is very crucial to protect your heart function. Apart from all these, an antioxidant also has cosmetic benefits.  It reverses the aging Sign and keeps you younger for longer.

6. Olive Oil is the Best Carrier Oil:

Most of us are aware of the benefits of using essential oils and aromatic oils for varied uses from cosmetic to stress relief.  We cannot use the Essential oil directly.  It always needs a carrier oil.  So olive oil always remis the best carrier oil to use with the aromatic essential oils.  The major reason include

  • It is light in weight
  • it doesn’t have any strong Aroma to affect the fragrance of the Essential oil
  • it has its own healing and rejuvenating properties which enhances with the benefits of Essential oil you use

7. Nongreasy Comprehensive Hair Care:

Although The Uses of olive oil for hair care has not been administered widely,   it makes a comprehensive has a solution by itself.   Many organic and natural hair care products, especially shampoos and conditioners, use olive oil as one of the major ingredients.

How olive oil works:

Olive oil nourishes the scalp; seeps into the scalp; strengthen the hair roots; prevent breakage; control hair fall and promotes hair growth.

 Additional benefits include:

  • It locks moisture
  • Prevent dryness
  • Make the hair soft and glossy
  • Deep conditions the hair

You can use olive oil just like any oil.  Apply on hair and scalp, gently massage and wash the hair after one hour.

[Also Read: Top 10 benefits of Coconut Oil For Hair Growth]

8. Olive Oil for Skin Care:

Whether or not you suffer from any skin conditions you can Resort to olive oil.  Olive oil makes the natural moisturizer for both dry and oily skin people. It is not greasy and light oil just quickly absorb into the skin.  Since it penetrates deeply it gives a good cleansing effect. Olive oil does not clog the pores in your skin. The antioxidant prevents and delays the aging signs.

You can use olive oil as a skin care or facial care solution in many ways.

  • as a deep cleanser by massaging the skin
  • as an exfoliate mix it with sugar or salt
  • as skin brightening ingredient mixed with lemon juice or vinegar

You can replace your night cream or night moisturizer with olive oil and massage your face and neck.

[Related: Best Homemade Drink for Clear Young and Glowing Skin]

9. Olive Oil to Protect the Skin of your Baby:

Skin care is not an easy task; it needs a lot of effort.   When it comes to taking good care of the baby especially the newborns you should take extra care on the skin of your baby.  Babies grow quickly in the first few weeks.

You cannot use any random Baby Product on the delicate skin of the baby.   Using olive oil moisturizes the tender skin of the baby quickly absorbed into the skin and also known as the skin.

10. Olive Oil Plays a Pivotal Role in the Prevention of Osteoporosis:

Nutritional profile, the richness of antioxidants,  along with the anti-inflammatory properties as shown increasing evidence that olive oil can effectively prevent osteoporosis.

The bones muscles and tissues are interconnected to each other. They need proper lubrication to prevent corrosion, bone loss, and deterioration.

(Osteoporosis is an auto-immune condition where the bones become  tender, brittle and porous.)

According to  FDA intake of 1 to 3 teaspoons of olive oil, every day reduces the oxidative stress in your body. It strengthens the muscles joints and bones, promotes lubrication.

Olive Oil for Cooking:

Generally, when it comes to culinary (Cooking) usage, people use extra virgin olive oil.  It means, the fruits of the olive tree used for extracting the oil and it does not undergo any processing.

Extra virgin olive oil carries a golden green color and tastes mildly peppery.  The aroma of the olive oil is mild and is based on the stage of the ripened olive fruit. In most cases, the olive oil comes with a pungent smell.

However when it comes to cooking extra virgin olive oil is not the best suited.  In most cases, the extra virgin olive oil is used as cold or raw oil in cooking.  Rarely, oil is used raw or cold forms in Indian Kitchens. 

So, it is somewhat difficult to substitute the regular cooking oil with olive oil.  Yet, if you are on an oil-free diet you can use olive oil without any guilt.  You can use olive oil in the dips for making bread dough, to marinate, as a part of salad dressing and saute.

Extra Virgin Oil / Virgin Olive Oil : For cold foods like salads or pastas, to saute, lightly fry, and poach.

Refined Olive Oil: Use refined olive oil for deep frying.

So, friends, we hope that after going through the above 10 Best Uses and Benefits of Olive Oil will surely help you.

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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