Anyone coming from the Mediterranean region of the world would tell you about the health benefits, as well as the wonderful flavour, of a good dose of olive oil on salads, pasta, fish and almost anything else.
Fortunately, it is available throughout the year to satisfy taste buds and promote good health.
Olive oil is made from the crushing and then subsequent pressing of olives. The fact that olives are rich in oil is reflected in the botanical name of the olive tree as; olea europaea as oleas means oil in Latin.
The Arabic name for olive is Zaytun.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS.
* Pure, extra virgin olive oil is not only a light and delicate addition to many wonderful dishes; it is one of the most health-promoting types of oils available.
* Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat; a type of fat that researchers are discovering has excellent health benefits. Just 1 ounce of extra virgin olive oil contains 86, 2% of the daily value for monounsaturated fat, plus 17.4% of the fat from vitamin E, a fat soluble anti-oxidant that protects these healthily fats from damage by free radicals.
* In the Mediterranean countries of Europe people eat a lot of olive oil. It is common to eat bread or toast just dipped in olive oil. Because of the daily use of olive oil the people that live in these countries suffer less from heart diseases than people of other countries in Europe .
* The use of olive oil has a positive effect on the cholesterol level in our blood. Because olives grow in a warm environment and the fruit has to protect itself from heat and bright sunshine, olives contain a lot of fenol-like substances. These substances could possibly play a role in the prevention and cure of thrombosis and arteriosclerosis.
* Research has shown and proven that olive oil reduces blood pressure.
* Olive oil may be the key reason that eating a Mediterranean diet reduces breast cancer risk, suggests a laboratory study published in January this year.
* Studies in diabetic patients have shown that healthy meals that contained some olive oil had better effects on blood sugar even than healthy meals that were low in fat.
* As far as other diseases go, regular use of olive oil has been associated with low rates of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
* Certain substances in olive oil have also been shown to be helpful for protecting the cells of the colon from cancer-causing chemicals. While most other fats are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, olive oil is actually associated with a reduced risk of this disease.
It is often said that olive oil causes problems with the stomach or intestines. This is simply not the case. Olive oil is very easy to digest and mild for the intestines!
You can do a little test. If you spill some olive oil on your hands you can easily wash it off. If disappears fast in the sink and you don't need a lot of hot water and detergent to wash it away. Because your body is like a glass of water it reacts the same.
If you have eaten some olive oil your body will evaporate it within 1 ½ hours via your pores. This means your body can handle it easily and does not have to waste any energy to digest it.
Olive oil was also used by our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. And has great medicinal value.
It's an excellent treatment for skin and hair, delays old age and treats inflammation of he stomach.
It helps with gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Olive oil is n excellent emollient and its external application softens the skin and crusts in eczema and psoriasis.
It is good oil for massage and is an important ingredient of many ointments and plasters.
In one Hadith, Prophet Muhammed S.A.W. advised people to use olive oil for food and for massage because it was obtained from a blessed tree.
A few quick serving ideas.
* Use olive oil in your salads.
* Puree roasted garlic, cooked potatoes and olive oil together to make delicious garlic mashed potatoes.
* Drizzle olive oil over healthy sautéed vegetables before serving.
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