The Incredible Health Benefits of Olive Oil, But Only If You Are Using the Right Kind
“I’ve heard and read a lot about the benefits of olive oil for health. However, I know that it’s also very high in calories and fat. Does eating olive oil really lead to longevity? ”
Dear Confused About Olive Oil,
Great question! There is so much different information out there, and it certainly doesn’t help that nutrition experts seem to constantly change their minds about what’s healthy and what’s not.
My answer to you is this: Yes, olive oil has been shown to have several incredible health benefits and protective properties for our brains. Fat can get a bad reputation, but olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, which can help lower our risk of heart disease and fight off the symptoms of metabolic syndrome such as inflammation, blood sugar, triglycerides, and LDL “bad” cholesterol.
In certain regions of Italy where people consume lots of high quality olive oil there are four times as many centenarians than the rest of the country, and cases of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive decline are very rare. In the Greek region of Ikaria where people consume about 4 tablespoons of high quality olive oil a day, the mortality rate is significantly lower.
Researchers at the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple University have discovered that certain polyphenols in extra-virgin olive oil can help delay (or even reverse!) Alzheimer’s by breaking up and flushing out amyloids and tau proteins in our brain, which form the plaques and tangles that lead to cognitive decline. To learn more about the extensive health benefits of olive oil, read this article. I would also highly recommend the AARP Bulletin and website as reliable resources on a wide range of topics for adults looking to boost their longevity and improve their quality of life.
BUT, not all olive oils are created equal and in order to actually reap these benefits it is important to buy the right kind. In fact, many olive oils found at the local supermarket fail to meet the standards of quality necessary to have an impact on your health. Here are a few guidelines to help you choose the right kind:
Try to select an olive oil that is in a darker bottle or tin. These offer more protection from light, which destroys the healthy polyphenols. Furthermore, you should store it in a cool and dark place.
Always look for the words “extra virgin”. This grade of olive oil undergoes less processing and thus retains more of its antioxidant content, so it has higher concentrations of disease-fighting compounds.
Check the expiration date and try to look for a fresh bottle.
Taste test! An olive oil with a bolder, more robust taste has higher amounts of polyphenols, which is what you are looking for.
Resources
The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MZW8USU/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
Why Should I Choose Olive Oil Over Other Types of Fat?
Research Study: Potential Health Benefit sof Olive Oil and Plant Polyphenols
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877547/
What are the Health Benefits of Olive Oil?
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266258