Health Benefits of Olive Oil
Dr. Edward Group / Global Healing Center

Olive oil, like wine, has been around forever. For people of the Mediterranean, it has had medicinal, even magical powers through the ages. The olive tree is considered a symbol of peace and glory.



Olives were first cultivated in the eastern part of the Mediterranean around 5000 B.C. Cultivation spread to Turkey, Greece, and Egypt before it reached southern Italy, Africa, and southern France. Italy was producing olive oil by the first century A.D.

Olive oil was used in medicines and different ointments. It was also used for nourishment and as an overall healing agent.

Today, Italy, Spain, and Greece produce olive oil, and California, with its Mediterranean climate, is fast becoming a leading producer. Like wine, many different varieties of olive oil have their own unique characteristics taken from the land and weather conditions.

Consumption of olive oil in the U.S. is at an all time high, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re still confused about the differences between regular or pure olive oil and olive oil that’s classified as virgin, extra virgin, and cold pressed. So, here’s a quick lesson in the different types of olive oil:

Basically, these designations are the grades of oil extracted from the olive. The classifications are strictly regulated. The regulation is somewhat different according to the country of origin.

Types of Olive Oil

• Regular or Pure Olive Oil
  Regular or pure olive oil has been chemically refined and filtered to neutralize both undesirable strong tastes and acid content. This olive oil is of lower quality and usually the least expensive.
• Virgin
  Virgin means the olive oil was produced without any chemical additives, so it contains no refined oil. It has an acidity that’s less than 2%, so it tastes better. Virgin refers to the fact that the olive oil has been less handled or manipulated during processing.
• Extra Virgin
  Extra virgin olive oil comes from the first press only and is the highest quality olive oil with perfect flavor, aroma, and balanced acidity. This olive oil is less processed than Virgin olive oil and is very delicate in flavor. It’s perfect for salad dressings, marinades, and for dipping bread.
• Cold Pressed Olive Oil
  Cold pressed olive oil is an unregulated label description. Back when olive oil was pressed the second time using hot water and steam to extract the last drop, the heat during the second pressing took away the delicate flavors. Today, premium olive oil is cold pressed, which means the olive paste is gently warmed to room temperature to avoid losing taste and pressing is done in winter, when it’s cold, to further retain flavor.

My opinion is that the best olive oil you can buy is organic cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil. That’s what I personally use.

Health Benefits of Organic Olive Oil

Organic olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, and is considered a good fatty acid (high density lipoproteins, HDLs) protect against bad cholesterol, or low density lipoproteins (LDLs).

Delicious organic olive oil contains all the vitamins and nutrients of the olive fruit, and if you get a premium organic olive oil, it will taste better and have a full aroma.

Organic olive oil is also filled with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients that may protect you against illnesses. Studies have shown that organic olive oil can help:

• Protect You from Heart Disease ^[1]
• Promote Healthy Digestion ^[2]
• Ease the Symptoms of Ulcers & Gastritis ^{[3] [4]}
• Lower Gallstone Formation ^[5]
• Balance the Fatty Acids in Your Body ^[6]

Scientific studies show that people eating two tablespoons of virgin organic olive oil daily for one week show less oxidation of LDLs and higher levels of antioxidants in their blood.

If you use extra virgin organic olive oil, you will benefit from higher levels of antioxidants, especially vitamin E and phenols, the same compounds found in grapes, because the olive oil is less processed.

7 Common Uses of Organic Olive Oil

Besides what I’ve already mentioned above, you can find many surprising ways to use your organic olive oil.

1. Cooking – Start using organic olive oil for cooking or as a replacement whenever a recipe calls for butter.
2. Body Oil – Rub it on your body or face after washing. You don’t need a lot to get great skin moisturizing benefits. You might even trying shaving with it or using it to remove makeup.
3. Control Hair Frizz, Dry Cuticles & Nails – Just comb a drop of organic olive oil through your hair to control flyaways and frizz. Rub it into nail cuticles and nails for a naturally polished look.
4. Control a Nagging Cough or Scratchy Throat – Swallow a tablespoon to soothe a dry or irritated throat.
5. Shine Stainless Pots & Pans – Organic olive oil will prevent streaking and tarnishing and naturally condition your pots and pans.
6. Lip Balm – Organic olive oil is the perfect lip balm to keep chapped lips at bay. It’s also great to use on your hands as a soothing hand lotion in winter.
7. Bath Oil – Add a few drops of organic olive oil to the water you’re running for your bath. The benefits to your skin will be obvious even after the first time you use it.

Did you know? Every sacred text from the ancient Near East (now the Middle East) is filled with mentions of olive oil. This product propelled the economy of the ancient world and was thought of as liquid gold. Ancient Olympic athletes rubbed it on their bodies before they competed because they believed it gave them strength and youth.

Excellent inforation Chad. I read that if you are going to cook with Olive you it is best to use the plain olive oil and not the extra virgin. This is because the plain has a higher flash point. That means its not going to break down into an unhealthy product when it is heated as in cooking.
What do you think about extra virgin coconut oil? I am seeing great benefits as well as taste.

People living in the Mediterranean region tend to have far lower cases of heart problems, because of their diet rich in omega 3 oils. We in the west however, have more complications because tons of people are deficient in omega 3, but have too much omega 6.

We been using Olive Oil for awhile now. It's not cheap compared to other unhealthy oils, but Doctor bills are not that cheap either. What people think they save in money food wise, really just cost them a lot more than what they can afford down the road.

After looking at Chad's Post, it would seem that not all Olive Oils are the same. The most expensive brands seem better, but are they?

Chad:
Doing some research I came across this article by CBS news.

By Louise Tutelian CBS News:

Seems after testing, and Chad's recommendations, for those on a budget, and wanting to eat healthy, the Costco's brand is top of the pick.

The nearest Costco to me is about a 2 hr drive, For me I would not be saving any money, but something to look into if you have a warehouse near you.

Jesus Is Lord.

Cold pressed extra virgin olive oil is not cheap.

A couple of years ago we decided to reduce the quantity of food we buy and consume, while increasing the quality. The result is our grocery bills are no more expensive, our diet is healthier and our waistlines, smaller.

It's also true that the more you overeat, the faster your internal organs wear out.

Smaller portions, can in most cases, equal longer life.

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat and antioxidants like chlorophyll, carotenoids and vitamin E. Scientists have identified a compound in olive oil called oleuropein which prevents the LDL cholesterol from oxidizing. It is the oxidized cholesterol that sticks to the walls of the arteries and forms plaque.