Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Olives are some of nature's most potent vegetables that have many health and nutritional benefits. Olives have been used in herbal and medicinal treatments for as long as anyone can remember. And today, olives are still touted as one of the best natural products you can find. So what are the health benefits of olives and olive oil?

Olive oil has the health benefit of protecting the body against cancers. Olive oil contains an abundance of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a well established antioxidant that helps to rid the body of dangerous free radicals. Free radicals from cellular processes like energy production can lead to cancers in the body, but the action of vitamin E-packed olive oil scavenges the body of all free radicals, leaving the body cancer free.

Olives and olive oil also have the health benefit of protecting the heart. Olives and olive oil have good fats that offer a much healthier alternative to the fats you normally eat or with which you cook. These fats do not clog your arteries; moreover, olives and olive oil help to protect the heart by preventing cholesterol from oxidizing. Preventing the oxidation of cholesterol helps keep your arteries free from dangerous plaque and ward off hear attacks and hear disease.

Olives and olive oil also have the health benefit of working against inflammation in the body. Several studies have indicated that the phytonutrients found in olives has positive effects on the body. Polyphenols and flavonoids found in olives have anti-inflammatory properties in the body. As such, olives and olive oil may help to reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, three ailments that are the result of inflammation in the body.

Olives and olive oil have also shown some promise for menopausal women. In a study conducted, results showed that the vitamin E found in olives may help to reduce the frequency and/or intensity of hot flashes among menopausal women.

Another health benefit of olives and olive oil is that they help to keep the gastrointestinal tract clear. Olive oil and olives clean out the stomach and the colon if taken at least three times per day. Olive oil may also help to protect the body from colon cancer especially as it keeps the colon running smoothly and keeps it healthy.

If you have trouble with indigestion a good thing for you to do is drink a little olive oil. That' because olive oil aids in digestion and keeps the gastrointestinal track working properly. For the best results you can drink three tablespoons of olive oil per day.

Olives have been around for a very long time and during that time; their many health benefits have helped countless people overcome a variety of ailments. So the next time you are in need of a little nature therapy, reach for a jar of olives or a little olive oil and drizzle it onto your plate.