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NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

 

In Ancient Greece, Homer used to call it "liquid gold". Also, Hippocrates was a great supporter of its beneficial properties. So why is olive oil considered to be so valuable? Which are the reasons for its well-reputed, high nutritional value?

Speaking of nutritional value of extra virgin olive oil, one needs to make reference to its content of monounsaturated fat, antioxidants and vitamin E.

 

Monounsaturated fatty acids

Primarily, the beneficial value of extra virgin olive oil is due to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (fats). Those types of fat have been associated with good health of the heart. This is because one of their key features is that they reduce "bad" cholesterol (LDL) while slightly increasing the "good" cholesterol (HDL). Also, they have been found to be protective against diabetes, because it has been shown that they improve the level of blood sugar, unlike other forms of fat such as saturated and polyunsaturated.

However, due to the fact that fats are high in calories, it is important to pay attention to the amount of fat and therefore olive oil that we consume. Monounsaturated fats should make up 15% of the calories that you need on a daily basis. Therefore, if a person consumes 2000Kcal daily, the 300Kcal should come from monounsaturated fats, or in other words, approximately 33gr (about 2-3tbsp of olive oil).

 

Antioxidants

The major antioxidants in olive oil are called “polyphenols”. Antioxidants protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer, improve eyesight and help avoid a wide range of allergies. Furthermore, these substances protect the quality of olive oil, positively affecting its aroma and flavour while acting against oxidation.

 

Vitamin E

Extra virgin olive oil is an excellent source of vitamin E, a vitamin known for its action as antioxidant. Vitamin E is strongly related to the good health of peoples’ heart, its action against many cancers, the prevention of premature aging and the protection against degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer.
 
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Extra virgin olive oil has not been chemically processed and does not contain any preservatives.
Extensive research has proven the cardio-protective and anti-cancer activity of olive oil.
Olive oil carries exactly the same caloric content as other types of oils.
Olive oil is the only oil that withstands more on heating and frying.
Olive oil helps to reduce the influence of alcohol.
Add olive oil at the end of the cooking process. This way it preserves its flavor and aroma better.
Olive oil can contribute effectively to combat hair loss and dandruff.
The method of olive oil storage constitutes an important factor in preserving its quality.
Olive oil is a natural solution to reduce the appearance of stretch marks during and after pregnancy.
Olive oil is the best dietary option for the diets of children, helping their proper growth.