Benefits of Olive Oil

Although the olive tree originated in Asia, it has been cultivated for over 3,000 years in Mediterranean countries, where much of the olive crop is used to the olive crop is used to the olive crop is used to make olive oil. In this process, olives are pitted and ground to a thick pulp. The pulp is then pressed to remove the juices, which are placed in a centrifuge to separate the water from the oil. One tablespoon of olive oil. One tablespoon of olive oil contains 120 calories and 14 grams of fat, but the fat is mostly monounsaturated; it has a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol levels and is easily digested. In those countries where olive oil is consumed extensively, such as Greece, Italy and Spain, there is a low incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The mild vegetable mucilage in olive oil protects the body's digestive tract. Ancient civilizations used olive oil to help heal wounds. Today, it is considered a good remedy for skin problems and an effective moisturizer.

Choose The Highest Quality Olive OilUse only olive oil that is labeled "extra virgin." This guarantees that the oil has been cold-pressed from freshly harvested olives and does not contain chemicals. Extra virgin olive oil supplies the best flavor and oil that is golden-yellow in color is of higher quality than green.

Extra Tip

Olive oil can help build strong fingernails and soften cuticles. Before bed, soak your nails in a mixture of lukewarm olive oil and lemon juice.Put on soft cloth gloves an let the oil penetrate overnight. Your nails will gradually become and chipping.

Therapeutic Effect:

Taken internally, olive oil stimulates metabolism, promotes digestion and lubricates mucous membranes . It can also be applied externally to treat dry skin.

ComponentsOlive oil contains 77 percent monounsaturated fatty acids, 14 percent saturated fatty acids and 9 percent polyunsaturated fatty acids, plus vegetable mucilage and vitamin E.

Help for the digestive tract
Take 1 tbsp. of olive oil on an empty stomach to stimulate digestion and relieve upset stomach, flatulence and heartburn.

Olive oil for constipation
In the morning, take 1 tsp. of olive oil mixed with lemon juice on an empty stomach. Or try an enema made from 5 oz. of olive oil in 20 0z. of boiling water, cooled to lukewarm.

The antioxidant benefit
The vitamin E in olive oil is an antioxidant. In addition, monounsaturated fatty acids are less easily damaged by oxygen than other types of fat. They are therefore less likely to produce free radicals, which damage cell membranes and contribute to several diseases.

Applications

• To lower Blood cholesterol levels
  The monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil help lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels without affecting HDL ("good") cholesterol or triglyceride levels. To lower your cholesterol, at least 15 percent of your daily calories should come from monounsaturated fatty acids.Whenever possible, use olive oil in place of butter or other vegetable oils in cooking, in preparing dressings for salads or vegetables and in making sandwiches.


• To treat ear complaints
  To clear stopped-up ears, put a few drops of lukewarm olive oil in the affected ear. Lie for 5 min. on the opposite side, then turn over, so that the olive oil can flow out again. (Do not put any liquid in your ear if you think you may have a perforated eardrum!) For earaches, soak a cotton pad in olive oil, then add 5 drops of lavender oil. Place it loosely in your outer ear until the pain abates.


• To prevent hair lossMassage the scalp with olive oil every evening for eight days. Let it work overnight and wash it out in the morning.


• To moisturize skinApply daily to dry spots or stretch marks.