Healthy Ideas

Reasons Why We Love Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Pure extra virgin olive oil is a light and tasteful addition to many dishes; it is one of the most health-promoting types of oils available.  Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat; a type of fat that researchers are discovering has excellent health benefits.

Researchers have shown that people who use olive oil regularly, especially in place of other fats, have much lower rates of heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer and asthma.  Furthermore, a Mediterranean style dietary pattern- characterized by high consumption of olive oil, raw vegetables, soups, and poultry - was associated with a significantly lower risk of death from all causes.

Dose: Consuming 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil a day has been shown to result in significantly decreasing LDL-cholesterol.

Practical Tips:

• To get the most health benefit and flavour from your olive oil, buy and store oil in opaque containers, and add olive oil to foods immediately after cooking
  
• Instead of serving butter, fill a small condiment dish with extra virgin olive oil for use on bread, rolls, potatoes or other vegetables
  
• For more flavour, try adding a few drops of balsamic vinegar or a sprinkling of your favourite spices to the olive oil

Use extra virgin olive oil (instead of regular olive oil or virgin olive oil) because it contains richer sources of poly phenols, which are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticoagulant action.  It is also the best source of vegetable oil for a healthy heart!

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SOURCE:

Michelle Chin, ND
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Advanced Health Recovery
3000 Hwy 7 East. Suite 205
Markham, ON . L3R 6E1
905-305-6033 www.advancedhealthrecovery.ca