Olive Oil Education

You may have recently read the story about a woman in Israel who claims to be 120 years old. One of her secrets to living to such an advanced age is that she drinks at least one glass of olive oil a day. While that may not be to everyone’s liking, it is easy to make olive oil a part of your daily diet in more tasty ways.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The most commonly used and heard of olive oil is extra virgin. Extra virgin, along with the standard virgin olive oil, is extracted directly from the olive fruit by grinding the olives in thermal conditions which preserves the natural taste. The method for extracting the oil is what is known as “cold pressed,” which keeps the oil from losing its flavor that can be lost when exposed to high temperatures.

Pure Olive Oil

Pure olive oil is another oil, but the name can be misleading. Pure is actually a blend of either extra virgin or virgin olive oil and olive oils that are refined. It is used mainly when extracted olive oil is of poor quality and the refining process helps it to have a better flavor.

The Health Factor in Olive Oil

Though considered a fat, olive oil is one of the most healthy oils due to its high monounsaturated fat content and relatively low saturated fat content. Studies have shown that olive oil helps the body’s heart remain healthy and also aids in regulating cholesterol levels.

The health benefits are widely recognized, and it is actually part of the food pyramid as followed by the Mediterranean Diet. Aside from consuming olive oil, some people swear of its benefits from using it topically on the skin. In 1997, the record holder for the longest lifespan, a woman from France, used olive oil daily not only in her diet, but by rubbing it on her skin.

Whatever it is used for, the health benefits of olive oil have been researched and proven. Oil is such a commonly used product today it only makes sense to opt for the most healthy one on the market. It is also one of the most flavorful of all the oils and is the perfect addition to many meals.

If you would rather not drink a glass a day, try it next time on your favorite dish. It would be worth it to try if we could all live to 120!