In the spirit of Hanukkah, Wellington Estates is all about the health benefits of olive oil in this post.
Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, you can appreciate the many benefits that olive oil has to offer.
Are you big on olive oil?
Well maybe you should be.
In addition to its nutritional properties, this fruit’s oil has many other health tricks up its sleeve.
Here are two of them.
Anti-Ageing Solution
In the Foreword to The Healing Powers of Olive Oil, Dr. Will Clower recounts the time an elderly woman approached him and asked how old he thinks she is. Judging by her appearance, Will figured she’s somewhere between 68 and 72. So he did what any kind person would do and ‘guessed’ that the woman was 65. But he was wrong; the woman was 88-years-old.
When asked about her secret, the woman attributed it to olive oil.
In Dr. Clower’s words, “the cultural habit of applying olive oil both inside and out, for softer, smoother, less desiccated skin, has been known and practiced for thousands of years. Now our Western science confirms that the dermal application of olive oil leaves your skin less dry, less wrinkled, and less susceptible to DNA damage caused by exposure to UV light.”
So if you want a younger look, turn to the green oil.
Stroke Prevention
If you’re 65 or older, taking olive oil may help prevent getting a stroke.
In a study published in June 2011, researchers examined 7,625 people’s medical records and classified them into three categories: “no use” of olive oil, “moderate use” of olive oil, and “intensive use” of olive oil.
While none of them had any previous stroke history, within just over five years, there were 148 cases.
Here’s what they found.
People who never used olive oil had a 2.6 percent chance of getting a stroke.
People who regularly used olive oil (in cooking and salad dressings) had a 1.5 percent chance of getting a stroke.
That’s a 41 percent difference in risk between the two groups!
Although “it is not clear which particular elements of olive oil could be protective,” it is clear that olive oil isn’t something you want to ignore.
There are many more health benefits of olive oil. But hopefully this is enough to get you on board.
What’s your experience with the health benefits of olive oil?
Please share in the comments below.