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What do you know about olive oil? It’s a go-to ingredient for many savory dishes, but you’ve likely heard about its potential advantages, too. In many ways, you’ll find that olive oil can aid your health. From disease prevention to hair growth, it’s a useful product to have on your shelf.
Here’s a look at a few benefits of olive oil that could help you.
Your body responds to various foreign invaders through inflammation. Unfortunately, you can develop multiple infections and conditions when that inflammation turns “bad.” In other words, you need to achieve a balance if you want to reduce the chances that you’ll experience heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other potential ailments.
An element like olive oil can help. The substance contains nutrients and antioxidants like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E and K. The oleic acid specifically reduces certain inflammatory markers that may negatively impact your body. As a result, you can subdue that “bad” inflammation.
There are multiple cardiovascular diseases, but you’re probably most familiar with heart attacks and strokes. These conditions occur for different reasons. Factors like high blood pressure and bad cholesterol oxidization often contribute to higher risks. You may be predisposed to cardiovascular diseases due to your age, gender or race, too.
It’s essential to manage your food intake if you’re worried about any cardiovascular diseases. You should talk to your doctor before you decide on any meal plans. You may also be able to prevent specific cardiovascular diseases through the Mediterranean diet. This regimen includes extra-virgin olive oil — and it’s this ingredient that reduces cardiovascular disease risk by 30% for many dieters.
You should be able to consume olive oil alongside any medications you take to prevent certain cardiovascular diseases. Still, it’s always wise to seek your physician’s approval before you make a decision.
It’s true that you’ll likely gain weight if you eat certain excess oils. What about olive oil? If you added extra olive oil to every meal, you’d probably gain weight. However, you can actually lose weight when you incorporate olive oil into your diet correctly. In fact, it’s possibly more effective to eat additional olive oil than to try a low-fat meal plan for weight loss purposes.
You won’t be able to lose weight if you don’t make additional changes. Your regular diet with added olive oil won’t work. But you can make progress when you add healthy proteins, vegetables, fruits and grains to your menu. A balance will always be key.
The benefits of olive oil extend beyond internal health. It’s often used as a supplement for hair and skin. It’s not suitable for everyone, but you may find that it’s helpful for certain needs.
You may have heard that olive oil works as a DIY solution for hair growth. Those claims aren’t supported by much evidence. Still, you can use olive oil to aid dry and damaged hair. A weekly olive oil mask will help your hair bond together better so you can avoid breakage.
It’s essential to use unrefined, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil specifically. The olive oil you use to cook isn’t designed for hair. Similarly, note that you should avoid olive oil if you have dandruff. The ingredient can exacerbate excess yeast growth that contributes to flaky scalps.
Many people use olive oil for their skin, as well. It’s often beneficial to apply certain oils to create moisture, prevent wrinkles and remove makeup. It’s ideal for those with dry skin because fatty acids can worsen oily or acne-prone skin. In any case, you may be able to use olive oil in your skin care routine.
There are various benefits of olive oil you can enjoy. It’s not a miracle remedy for any condition, but you can boost your overall health if you use olive oil properly. Be sure to talk to your doctor about how to incorporate olive oil into your regimen for maximum effectiveness.
