Olive Oil
We all know that cooking in natural oils like olive oil is much better for us than cooking in butter or other types of fat but many people aren’t exactly sure why. One of the reasons is that olive oil is one of the best sources to go to for a healthy dose of monounsaturated fat - a key nutrient for lowering cholesterol levels. Olive oil is pretty much a medial marvel and there are whole bunch of different reasons why - for example olive oil, particularly extra virgin olive oil, is very high in antioxidants and in studies it’s found that it fights off free radicals to a great extend than other antioxidants and it relieves red bloods cells that are under oxidative stress. Olive oil has also been linked to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease because of oleocanthal which is a natural compound found in extra virgin olive oil and stops the onset of the disease in its tracks. Olive oil can also improve memory and eyesight, can help prevent colitis and is generally just a really good addition to your diet - especially if you’re replacing dairy or other fats with it.
It’s recommended that you have about two teaspoons a day to make a real difference in your diet but this isn’t a certain recommendation and just a suggestion. Olive oil can also be put to use in a whole lot of other areas in your life as well. For one thing - olive oil has been touted as the answer to having extremely soft and lovely skin as well as very shiny and luxurious hair. Many people have used olive oil as home remedies for these kinds of beautifying practices for years. Lots of people will use olive oil as a natural form of skin care - preferring to forgo all those creams and lotions that are filled with chemicals and instead use olive oil nightly applied with a gentle cotton ball in order to soften and improve their skin. Olive oil can also be used as a sort of conditioner in the shower, you can just apply a small amount of it to your hair, mix it in thoroughly and then rinse it out with a bit of shampoo or some lemon. A few tablespoons of olive oil can also be added to a bath can do a great job of conditioning a persons skin and there are lots of other home remedies that can be used in this way.
As far as eating olive oil it’s important not to heat it too high because it can become acidic and thus bad for you if you cook with it at high temperatures but sprinkling it over a salad, dipping bread into it, doing some like sautéing with it - all of these things can be a great way to add olive oil into your diet. If all else fails then drizzle it over some steamed vegetables with some herbs and you’ll have a very healthy and nutritious meal that will do lots of things that will benefit your body. Have fun!