The best ally for our health is one of the most abundant products on the Iberian Peninsula: extra virgin olive oil.

The so-called liquid gold is one of our allies for maintaining robust health. This article will be sharing the benefits of extra virgin olive oil.

Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Source of Vitamins

These vitamins promote the absorption of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. They help maintain the immune system, vision, bones, and soft tissues.

Vitamin A helps develop and maintain teeth, soft and bony tissues, mucous membranes, and skin. It is also known as retinol since it produces pigments in the eye´s retina.

Vitamin D helps absorb calcium and phosphorus. Responsible for having healthy bones and preventing osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones thinner and more prone to fractures.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Vitamin K is a substance necessary for forming clots and stopping bleeding.

Antioxidant Properties

Among the benefits of extra virgin olive oil is slowing ageing in our skin and mind. It is a natural juice that contains non-fat micro components, including vitamins E and K and polyphenols, which help our skin and cells age more slowly.

Improvement of the Immune System

A perfect ally against bacteria and viruses, especially when COVID-19 happened in December 2019.

Why is extra virgin olive oil perfect against bacteria and viruses? Because being rich in antioxidants and vitamins increases the number of white blood cells and T lymphocytes, providing more resistance to our immune system.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Another component of extra virgin olive oil is oleocanthal, a natural anti-inflammatory compound that reduces joint and muscle pain.

Improvement of Circulation

Our Mediterranean diet, with olive oil as its ambassador, is the perfect ally to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Studies show that a varied diet of fruits and vegetables seasoned with olive oil reduces the risk of circulatory problems in the extremities by up to 66%. It also decreases the likelihood of suffering a myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes by 30%.

Controls Cholesterol

Being mainly composed of oleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid), it reduces LDL “bad” cholesterol and increases HDL and cholesterol.

If not treated in time, high cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This cholesterol accumulates in the walls of our arteries, blocking blood flow.

To control cholesterol, we should just add three teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil to our balanced diet, always accompanied by exercise recommended for our age and physical condition.

Helps with Weight Loss

As expected, olive oil does not help with weight loss alone. A balanced diet or Mediterranean diet and exercise are recommended. Using more than one tablespoon of oil per meal is not advisable.

Extra virgin olive oil contains properties that help in the fight against overweight:

Oleic acid reduces the feeling of appetite.
It speeds up metabolism and eliminates unhealthy fats.

Remedy for Constipation

Another great benefit of extra virgin olive oil is improving intestinal health. Its components include oleic acid, vitamin E, and phenolic compounds. It also has a lubricating effect that enhances bowel movements. It also provides more biodiversity for intestinal bacteria, thus improving intestinal microbiota balance.

Studies have shown that consuming between 50 and 60 ml daily for 20 to 30 days reduces constipation due to its mildly laxative components.

However, to improve our intestinal health, it is recommended:

Consume olive oil daily.
Balanced diet.
Consume fibre.
Engage in physical activity, especially sports involving abdominal muscles (running, cycling, swimming, elliptical, and rowing).

Reduces the Risk of Different Types of Cancer

The benefits of extra virgin olive oil have been studied in prostate, colon, intestinal, and breast tumours. All have focused on the enzymes of “oleocanthal”. According to many studies, this compound causes the death of cancer cells without altering healthy cells.

The doctors and researchers participating in these studies emphasise that no food is wrong, but rather how it is used. Escrich, a researcher at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, has stated that tumours developed by people fed a diet dominated by olive oil are “low grade”. Also, in the case of seed oils (any vegetable oil that comes from the seed of plants), the tumours are “high malignancy”.

If you want to improve your health today, Reinos de Taifas has an online store with different types of olive oil. We bring to your family table the liquid gold that will give your dishes the healthy touch they deserve.

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