Olive oil is a monosaturated, heart healthy fat. It has the potential to provide health benefits, even in small amounts. It contains antioxidants in the form of vitamin E and beneficial plant-based substances. It’s also one of the top sources of monounsaturated fats that help lower cholesterol and help prevent inflammation. There’s a strange hype over drinking a glass of olive oil as morning breakfast but that can be nauseating! Instead you can have 2-3 tablespoons of neat olive oil in the morning and get the same benefits. Here the some of the benefits of drinking olive oil:
ENCOURAGES WEIGHT LOSS
Drinking olive oil aids you in achieving any weight-loss goals you may have. Not only have MUFAs been shown to help the body feel full, but they also target belly fat. Add olive oil to your list of flat-belly foods you should be eating.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
Castor oil is a well-known remedy for constipation, used to lubricate the intestinal tract and promote elimination. In the same way, olive oil is useful for relieving occasional constipation. It is often gentler than stool softeners and medications found over-the-counter, which can cause cramping and with continued use, may be habit-forming.
LOWER CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
Extra-virgin olive oil can help lower your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, which can cause narrowing of the arteries. The oil contains oleocanthal as well as oleuropein that protect LDL molecules from oxidative damage which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. At the same time, olive oil increases HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the body, which plays a protective role and helps prevent unwanted blood clotting, a key reason behind heart attacks and strokes.
BONE HEALTH
Regular intake of olive oil has been associated with better blood levels of calcium, needed for bone mineralization and the process of calcification. Thus, olive oil is beneficial for people suffering from osteoporosis, who are susceptible to fractures due to reduced bone mass. It can even reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
HEALTHY HEART
While it may seem counterintuitive that drinking olive oil can help protect the heart from disease, multiple studies confirm the claim to be true thanks to the MUFAs, or monounsaturated fats, olive oil contains- so much so that the FDA allows manufacturers to label olive oil with this health claim.
IMMUNITY
Loaded with antioxidants vital for strengthening and protecting your immune system, extra virgin olive oil may help you become more resistant to infection. This wide range of important antioxidants isn’t found in other oils.
REDUCE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
People on high blood pressure medications may be able to reduce the amount of medicine they take by drinking extra-virgin olive oil for other types of fats in their diet. Researchers believe that the oleic acid in olive oil is easily absorbed in the body, and thereby lowers blood pressure. This oil also slows down the aging of the heart due to the presence of healthy monounsaturated fats.
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CAUTION:
- Olive oil may interact with anti-diabetes and antihypertensive drugs.
- Pregnant and lactating women should avoid consuming olive oil in amounts higher than those found in food.
- Before beginning a daily olive oil regimen or using it to treat any medical condition, talk to your doctor to see if it’s a healthy choice for you.
- If you are drinking olive oil, make sure you reduce the intake of other fatty foods or foods high in calories.