Many people know that indulging in fried foods is bad for your health, but oil has a way of crisping up finger-food favorites that make it a popular guilty pleasure. Deep frying, in particular, adds plenty of calories and introduces more trans fat that can be detrimental to your heart.
Diet fads online say that it’s best to remove deep-fried dishes in your diet, but frying your favorites using extra virgin olive oil offers a tastier and healthier alternative to saturated fats like butter, lard, or palm oil.
Olive oil is a staple in various cuisines, particularly the Mediterranean diet, for being both a delicious and nutritious addition to meals. What makes extra virgin olive oil good for your health?
The Health Benefits of Olive Oil
Benefit #1: Rich in Monounsaturated Fats
Olive oil is extracted from olives, which is made up of 14 percent saturated fats, 11 percent polyunsaturated fat, and a whopping 73 percent of monounsaturated fat. This makes it packed with antioxidants and nutrients that provide the right balance of omega-6, omega-3 fatty acids, and powerful antioxidants that strengthen the body against free radicals.
Not to mention, monounsaturated fats are known to fight off cardiovascular disease, reducing contributing markers like chronic inflammation, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood glucose levels.
Benefit #2: Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
As mentioned above, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of olive oil make it an excellent killer of cholesterol and high blood pressure.
This mitigates the risk of developing heart disease, and wherein observational studies find that those who consume the most olive oil compared to other oils have lower chances of having heart issues. Beyond boosting your heart, extra virgin olive oil can also minimize stroke incidences.
Benefit #3: Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
In addition to providing healthy fats, extra virgin olive oil is also rich in phenolic compounds, which primarily aids metabolism and improves the effectiveness of insulin. Enhancing insulin sensitivity can do wonders in minimizing Type 2 diabetes symptoms by normalizing the blood.
This can protect people against the disease and even manage pre-existing diabetes.
Benefit #4: Improve Bone Health
Extra virgin olive oil is also rich in polyphenols, a compound that mitigates the breakdown of calcium. Inhibiting bone reabsorption is essential in improving bone formation, which means eating food fried or drizzled in unrefined olive oil can be a delicious way to reduce bone loss due to old age.
Benefit #5: Contribute to Brain Health
The liquid gold that is popular in Mediterranean cuisine proves to be a healthy choice for the body and mind. For one, the phenolic compounds that fight off type 2 diabetes can also enhance brain function by reducing the compounds that facilitate cognitive decline.
This makes extra virgin olive oil a great addition to the diet of those fighting age-related dementia or decrease the chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
The Bottom Line
If ever you want to spruce up your meals, you don’t have to worry about topping or frying your dishes in olive oil as it is good for your health and your taste buds.
If you’re looking for oils and ingredients that can improve your health, browse our website for more news about the medical industry and the best foods to incorporate in your diet.
