A Look at Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the ingredients unique to Mediterranean diet. It is the main source of fat in this diet, and its health benefits could be derived from its richness in monounsaturated fats and its ability to reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol. Compared to other sources of fats, olive oil is by far the safest. It’s a heart-friendly oil that offers the following benefits:

• It melts clots in the capillaries and helps prevent clogging in the artery
• It fortifies the bones
• It aids in the prevention of ulcer and constipation, and takes care of your digestive system
• It helps cure urinary tract infection

Heart Benefits

Other than olive oil, Mediterranean diet also includes other foods that take care of the heart. What are these? Fruits and veggies are number one. They have antioxidants that can reduce the possibility of heart stroke. Meanwhile, fish is rich in omega 3 which is known for reducing cholesterol. Wine can also prevent blood clots due to its heart-friendly flavonoid phenolics. Additionally, nuts are among the healthiest foods because they are free from sugar and salt, as long as properly prepared.

Cancer Benefits

The Mediterranean eating pattern also reduces risk of cancer side by side with heart disease. And although this pattern is said to reduce cancer risks in general, studies are now being conducted to determine its benefits in reducing risks of colon cancer in particular. The benefit of this diet in the colon is believed to be largely due to its high monounsaturated fat content. This limits the production of certain proteins linked to colon cancer while increasing the production of compounds that protect against this type of cancer.

Other Benefits

While the health benefits of Mediterranean diet largely cover the two medical conditions mentioned above, it also provides protection against many other diseases. Among these are hypertension, diabetes (Type 2), as well as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. And of course, it’s been proven effective for losing (and even for gaining) weight! This diet also offers some cosmetic benefits—like healthy skin, for instance. And more importantly, it can add more years to your life.

Effective and proven—these two words best sum up this eating pattern from the Mediterranean area. No other diet has been backed up by many studies and researches than this one. With the various health benefits of Mediterranean diet, there’s no doubt it’s ideal for you no matter what your health goal is.