Why Is Olive Oil A Healthy Food?

Olive oil is one of the world's healthiest foods. If you are starting a new healthy eating program you want to make sure that this oil is included. It is the foundation of the Mediterranean diet, who have the world's longest-living cultures. Many of the health-promoting effects of the Mediterranean diet have been credited to olive oil consumption.

What Are The Health Benefits?

The reason that olive oil should be on your healthy foods list is down to a combination of two key health boosting nutrients. These two nutrients are monounsaturated fats and tyrosol esters.

Firstly, monounsaturated fats help to strengthen blood cholesterol levels, which reduce your risk of heart disease and improve blood glucose levels which helps in the treatment of diabetes. The other nutrient, tyrosol esters, help to safeguard against a number of health conditions and infections and also alleviate pain, support your vital organs and fortify your immune system.

Why You Should Control How Much You Consume?

Despite the fact that olive oil is one of the healthiest foods around, it is pure fat so you need to be careful how much you consume at any one time. One tablespoon contains approximately 120 calories so adding just a few tablespoons to your meals can really raise the amount of calories in your food and meals.

How Can You Eat The Right Amount Of Olive Oil?

To add the health benefits of olive oil to your eating plan without going over the top, simple drizzle a tablespoon amount over a salad. Or you can sprinkle meat prior to cooking to add flavour and moisture. Adding a tablespoon to a curry, casserole or any other hot dish will give you the health boosting nutrients contained within the oil without altering the taste or texture of your dish too much.

You only have to look at the statistics behind the Mediterranean diet to see the olive oil health benefits. If you want to eat healthy foods as part of your new eating plan make sure this oil is one of the foods in your new, improved diet. Do bear in mind that you cannot make unhealthy foods healthier simply by adding olive oil to them, so you still need to eat a balanced diet. That means eating the right amount of foods from the main food groups which are considered to be whole grains, fruit and vegetables, protein, diary, fats and sugar.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8874860