BENEFITS
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
A natural oil that preserves its flavor, aroma and vitamins contained by an olive, olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is.
A healthy choice, because olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that helps preventing cardiovascular diseases, by reducing bad cholesterol levels.
Since always loved for its gastronomical value, because of its sensorial characteristics as well as biological and chemical, studies reveal that countries where diets are rich in olive oil have lesser numbers in cardiovascular diseases.
Nowadays its an irreplaceable fat in our diet and also the best digestible one. When consumed before a meal, it protects the stomach mucous membranes, acting against ulcers.
As shown, there are a lot of benefits in this healthy and irreplaceable fat. Here are more facts that justify the presence of this liquid gold in your diet:
– Helps to activate the memory; prevents osteoporosis, facilitates the absorption pf calcium.
– Helps to control weight.
– Calming effect.
HEALTHY DIET
A healthy and balanced diet is essential for a healthy life, promoting your well-being and preventing some diseases.
We know that choosing the right ingredients for a good diet isn’t always easy, and it’s necessary to discover fresh and diverse flavors. But more than knowing how to choose them it is important to know how to prepare them, in order to guarantee their freshness and quality after being cooked.
It is essential that saturated fats are substituted by monounsaturated ones, such as olive oil.
When preparing salads or cooked greens, you should use extra virgin olive oil. Less refined and rich in anti-oxidants that guarantee its nutritional richness.
While cooking a soup, we suggest that you use virgin olive oil, adding it when the soup is finished cooking.
For general cooking, use a mixture of refined and virgin olive oil, and choose recipes the need little fat for cooking, such as a raw stew, taking advantage of the juices in meat or fish to obtain a delicious sauce.
OLIVE OIL AND HEALTH
An important element for balance of a diet, olive oil is a source of well-being and pleasure for those who consume it on a regular basis.
Rich in oleic acid (monounsaturated fat acid), this nectar has other oxidants (vitamin E, phytosterols, carotenoids, phenolic compounds), that help preventing some diseases and are good for health.
Besides preventing cardiovascular diseases, by acting on blood pressure, olive oil contributes to reduce cholesterol, by reducing “bad cholesterol” (LDL).
The daily usage of olive oil, on a balanced and balanced diet, favors digestion, relieves constipation, maintains healthier bones and is good for diabetes. Because it has oleic acid, it should be included in children’s diets, because it benefits their development.
With all these benefits we can not forget that it is still a fat, and as such it must be used with moderation.
MEDITERRANEAN DIET
An ancient diet, that is a healthy and balanced combination of ingredients, with the essential amount of anti-oxidants (Vitamins C and E), and indispensable vegetable products, that regulate the organism.
It is characteristic of the countries bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, this type of diet is rich in cereals, fruit, vegetables, fish, dried vegetables and olive oil, which is a harmonious combination of the best traditional ingredients that result in a healthy life style.
Olive oil may be considered one of the most important ingredients on this diet. With vitamin E, and a strong anti-oxidant power, olive oil maintains high levels of lipoproteins HDL (good cholesterol), avoiding the deposit of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) within the arteries, which, when oxidized, may create several heart diseases. It also has stimulating properties for the liver and gallbladder, which helps with digestion.
Main Pilars of the Mediterranean Diet
– Choose ingredients that are rich in fiber, including fruit and vegetables, cereals and bread, rice and pasta, potatoes and beans;
– Olive oil should be the main source for fat in your diet, replacing a big part of other fats (butter, margarine and cooking oil);
– Consume dairy with moderation, specially cheese and yogurt;
– Refined sugar, sweets and honey, should be consumed occasionally;
– Red meat (cow, veal, lamb, pork, etc.) should be consumed with moderation;
– Moderate consumption of wine (mainly with meals);
– Coffee and tea should also be consumed with moderation;
– Exercise on a regular basis, promoting your well-being, both mentally and physically, and at the same time maintaining a healthy weight.
Though this should be the diet to follow, we often don’t do it, because of the busy life style of nowadays. And we grow further apart from a standard Mediterranean diet and its proven benefits.
Healthy habits, with rational and balanced meals, and regular physical activity, should be constant with friends and family.
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