Does drinking olive oil have health benefits? Dietitian shares tips to add it your diet Olive oil is a key ingredient in the Mediterranean diet , which many nutrition experts consider to be the healthiest way to eat.
Swapping olive oil for other fats is one of the easiest ways to boost your health because olive oil has so many benefits. Here’s a breakdown of why olive oil is so good for you, how to shop for olive oil and when to incorporate it into your routine. Olive oil nutrition
Olive oil has many unique nutritional properties compared to other cooking oils. For one, it has a high monounsaturated fat (MUFA) content, and MUFAs help to lower your "bad" LDL cholesterol.
It also contains more than 30 types of phenolic compounds , which are antioxidants that protect your cells from harmful free radical molecules. Over time, free radical damage can increase the risk of numerous health issues.
Polyphenols also have prebiotic activity, which encourages growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut microbiome. The microbiome plays an essential part in regulating everything from cholesterol and blood sugar levels to mood, inflammation, nutrient absorption and immune functioning. In other words, a healthy gut is imperative to your overall physical and mental health.
In addition to these bioactive compounds, a tablespoon of olive oil has: 126 calories
14 grams of healthy fat
2.93 milligrams of vitamin E (29% of the daily value)
Data suggests that 90% of men and 96% of women have inadequate vitamin E intake. This essential nutrient is also an antioxidant that helps fight free radical damage and boosts the activity of immune cells. Types of olive oil When shopping for olive oil, you will likely see three types on the shelf: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the most flavorful and nutrient-rich of the various types of olive oil. That’s because it’s the least processed, and the polyphenols contribute to its distinctive taste. Olive oil is a blend of EVOO and more processed, refined olive oil. Therefore, it has fewer polyphenols and a milder flavor. Light olive […]
Does drinking olive oil have health benefits? Dietitian shares tips to add it your diet
