The healthy food craze around the world has reintroduced us to long-lost foods and ingredients that people consumed regularly in the past. Some of these foods weren’t only consumed– they were used to keep people’s health in check. Take olive oil for example – it has numerous benefits for our health and can drastically improve it.
What is Olive Oil?
Olive oil is a concentrated liquid fat obtained from olives. It is produced by pressing whole olives and commonly consumed in the Mediterranean region. For years, experts have recommended olive oil for a variety of digestive problems, as a detox method, and as a way to improve skin health.
The only problem with olive oil is that there are so many brands on the market nowadays, and not all are of equal quality. You will get the best results only by consuming high-quality organic olive oil, which may be hard to find, and is quite expensive as well. But, trust us – it’s worth it.
Olive oil can improve your health like almost nothing else. Here are 7 reasons why you should drink it every day:
1. Great for Your Brain
Did you know that olive oil is great for your brain? It is full of healthy fats which help brain impulses to travel uninterrupted, which results in free-flowing thoughts. In simpler terms, olive oil will sharpen your mind and help you think faster.
2. Great for Your Heart
There’s no question that olive oil is great for your heart. It is even considered a superfood thanks to the presence of healthy fats and other compounds that can keep your arteries clean and your heart beating properly. Eat green leafy vegetable salads with some olive oil each day to stabilize your blood pressure and reduce inflammation in the cardiovascular system.
3. Boosts Digestion
Olive oil is like a lubricant for your digestive system. It will help things move easier and a great remedy for constipation. A tablespoon of olive oil per day is recommended to keep your digestion in check. Don’t consume more of it –a lot of olive oil has been known to lead to diarrhea.
4. Helps with Weight Loss
Although it’s not a miracle pill, olive oil can help you lose weight. The healthy fats in it won’t accumulate in your body like regular fats. The oil will boost your digestion and metabolism, helping your body burn fat more efficiently.
According to a 2010 study, the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olives and olive oil, is perfect for weight loss and proper cardiovascular health as well. Olive oil will lower the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood, resulting in optimal fat burn.
5. Keeps Your Hair, Nails, and Skin Healthy
Olive oil is amazing for your skin, hair, and nails. Its secret lies in vitamin E, a nutrient that is important for the health of your skin, hair, and nails. Just consume a tablespoon of olive oil every day and you can say goodbye to hair and skin problems. Or you can rub a bit of the oil on the problematic areas – it works well either way.
6. Relieves Pain
Rubbing olive oil on painful spots is a great way to subdue the pain even if only temporarily. Studies have shown that it is just as effective as aspirin in this regard. The oil contains an enzyme that acts just like painkillers and can fight any kind of pain.
Of course, it’s just a temporary solution and not a treatment for underlying diseases. If the pain persists, we strongly urge you to see a doctor.
7. Makes You Look Young
Thanks to the presence of powerful antioxidants, you could say that olive oil is the elixir of youth. Consuming it every day will help the body fight free radicals and at the very least delay the aging process. It can’t be stopped, but who doesn’t want to look young as long as possible?
Are There Any Side-Effects to Consuming Olive Oil Every Day?
If you take only one tablespoon per day, no, olive oil can’t harm you in any way. Even if you consume more, the side-effects are not more serious than diarrhea. If you’re trying to lose weight, be aware that a tablespoon of olive oil has around 120 calories. If you’d like to slim down, consuming more isn’t a great idea.