5 Surprising Health Benefits of Olive Oil

                  5 Surprising Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Olive oil has been used as a cooking ingredient and skin moisturizer for thousands of years, but it’s only recently that scientists have proven its medicinal properties. Today, we’re going to take an in-depth look at five surprising health benefits of olive oil that you probably didn’t know about before today.

1) Reduces Inflammation

Olive oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat that may help reduce inflammation. Previous research has linked lower omega-3 levels to heightened inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. More studies need to be done on olive oil specifically, but there’s a lot to suggest it has anti-inflammatory properties.

2) Protects Against Heart Disease

A study conducted at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, which followed nearly 20,000 patients for 12 years showed that those who consumed olive oil had a 31% lower risk of dying from heart disease. In addition to protecting against heart disease, it is believed that olive oil may also help prevent obesity and promote weight loss. Olive oil has been shown to increase feelings of fullness and make people eat fewer calories overall.

3) Increase Energy

Olive oil is one of nature’s most energy-dense foods, meaning that it provides tons of energy. Eating a little bit can provide quick bursts throughout your day while eating more at meals and snacks can help keep you feeling full until your next meal. Olive oil also contains healthy fats that are known to increase cognitive function, stimulate weight loss, and improve heart health.

4) Helps With Hair Loss

Eating 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil every day can help you prevent hair loss. The vitamin E and essential fatty acids in olive oil nourish your scalp and hair follicles, keeping them healthy and preventing dryness that leads to excessive shedding. Plus, antioxidants in olive oil also help fight off damage from free radicals. Eating some olive oil daily can not only keep your hair where it belongs—on your head—but also make it look beautiful.

5) Lowers Risk of Diabetes

That’s because, like monounsaturated fat, olive oil helps reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, which in turn may lower your risk of developing diabetes. A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that among people at high risk for diabetes—those with pre-diabetes—those who used olive oil daily reduced their risk by 20 percent after three years. Those who substituted polyunsaturated fats for some or all of their olive oil did not experience similar results.