Friday, June 15, 2012

Some Of The Health Benefits Of Olive Oil Include Battling Cancer And Losing Fat

By Tony Caldaroni


The positive effects of the Mediterranean diet on general health and well-being have seen some of its features adopted all over the world in recent years, especially when it comes to the kind of cooking oil it tends to use. The health benefits of olive oil have become clearer with more research. The long lives of people in certain parts of countries like Greece and Italy have become famous in part because of this amazing substance.

Many people may wonder just how healthy olive oil can actually be, it is, after all, a type of fat. However, while cooking fats such as lard or low grade vegetable oils contain polyunsaturated fats, which damage our bodies, olive oil contains monounsaturated fat. This has entirely different effects, and is actually a fat which benefits us to consume.

These monounsaturated fats have a number of beneficial effects, and can help people with a massive range of illnesses and conditions. Blood pressure, obesity, hardening of the arteries and even cancer can all be helped by consuming this humble kind of oil. The oil can actually really be viewed as a kind of vegetable, providing the body with essential nutrients.

Sufferers of arteriosclerosis, for example, are one group of people who would particularly benefit from using this kind of oil in their diet, as it contains antioxidants and carotenoids, as well as Vitamin E and monounsaturated fat. Generally better known as 'hardening of the arteries', this illness occurs due to LDL cholesterol particles sticking to the sides of blood vessels. This stresses the cardiovascular system, and can lead to severe problems.

Oleuropein works to prevent the oxidization of LDL cholesterol, preventing it from forming the plates which clog up arteries. This is helpful for all kinds of other conditions as well, particularly anything relating to the heart and blood system. Keeping the heart in good shape is crucial to good health, and this type of oil can certainly help your heart.

Cancer is an illness which not many things can tame, but the oleic acid present in olive oil has been shown to have an inhibitive effect on certain kinds of breast cancer. Incorporating it into a diet in combination with the right dosages of prescribe medication was demonstrated to help this kind of cancer. Additionally, studies have also shown that it could also help prostate cancer and endometrial cancers.

People who are battling against diabetes will also find that there are direct benefits to using olive oil in their diets. Studies have shown that combining a high-carbohydrate, low fat diet with the product leads to the body better controlling blood sugar levels. It can also help lower a person's triglyceride levels, with many diabetics living with high triglyceride levels which can put them in danger of falling prey to heart disease.

Using the product will also help people who are keen to lose weight. Substituting it for saturated fats in a diet has been shown to burn more fat even in people who do not regularly exercise. The health benefits of olive oil are therefore wide ranging and extremely useful, helping people cope with a wide range of conditions.




About the Author: