True Health Flows Down the Olive Tree

For centuries, olive oil is not used only as a cooking oil in many cuisines, but also as natural health remedy for skin care and even as a medicine. Homer called it “liquid gold.” In ancient Greece, athletes ritually rubbed it all over their bodies. Olive oil has been more than mere food to the peoples of the Mediterranean: it has been medicinal, magical, an endless source of fascination and wonder and the fountain of great wealth and power. Among well known and hidden benefits of olive oil are also:

• High quantity of unsaturated (good) fats, which importantly help to prevent cardiovascular diseases and to maintain low blood pressure.
• There is a large body of clinical data to show that consumption of olive oil can provide heart health benefits such as favourable effects on cholesterol regulation and LDL cholesterol oxidation, and that it exerts antiinflamatory, antithrombotic, antihypertensive as well as vasodilatory effects.
• Unlike the high amount of animal fats, olive oil lowers cholesterol levels in the blood and it is also known to lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
• Olive oil also has cardioprotective beneficts and even protects stomach and pancreas from diseases.
• Olive oil contains the monounsaturated fat oleic acid, having antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids, and oleuropein, a chemical that prevents the oxidation of LDL particles.
• Preliminary research indicates that olive oil could possibly be a chemopreventive agent for peptic ulcer or gastric cancer and some other studies reveal possible reduction of oxidative damage to DNA and RNA, which may be an important factor in preventing cancer.

About the Author:

Mark Hanselich, MPharm - I try to be as versatile as possible. I graduated in pharmacy, work as journalist, play soccer, have my own wine cellar and can communicate in six languages. I'm also personal development author and internet marketing specialist. Together with Mr. Daniel Maxoff I run the Website Anioc.com, dedicated to personal development, health and all the good things in our lives. You can also follow me on Twitter.