In the Mediterranean diet, olive oil plays a key role with healthy character description. The vegetable oil is said to prevent disease, reduce the risk of heart attack and beautify the external appearance in a natural way. For these purposes, it is used internally as well as externally - some even swallow it by the spoonful as a kind of medicine. But how healthy is olive oil really?
Ingredients of olive oil
A product can only be as healthy as its contents. So let's take a look inside the olive oil bottle. Which ingredients distinguish olive oil in terms of health?
Key ingredients of MANI extra virgin olive oil (per 100 g ):
- Energie / Energy 3404 kJ / 828 kcal
- fat / total fat 91.6 g
- of which: saturated fat / of which: saturated fat 13.7 g
- monounsaturated fatty acids / monounsaturated fat 69.2 g
- polyunsaturated fatty acids / polyunsaturated fat 8.7 g
- carbohydrates / carbohydrates 0.0 g
- of which sugar 0.0 g
- protein / protein 0.0 g
- Salt / Salt 0.0 g
- Vitamin E 24.0 mg°
When it comes to how healthy olive oil really is, it stings Ingredient particularly eye-catching: A main component of olive oil are monounsaturated fatty acids - With its relatively high oleic acid content, olive oil stands out from many other vegetable oils and creates a solid basis for a health-promoting diet. In healthy harmony with the monounsaturated fatty acids, the secondary plant substances, called polyphenols, also get their health-boosting appearance. Olive oil is also made up of antioxidants that help the body defend itself against free radicals.
Form high quality olives a crucial basis for healthy olive oil
Important: Olive oil can meet the high expectations can only be fulfilled if it is also a high-quality oil that has been obtained from selected fruits with the lowest possible heat input. Although many inexpensive products bear the name olive oil, they do not bring all the healthy benefits into the pan by a long shot. Refined oils, for example, lose large parts of their valuable ingredients during heating and in this respect leave a slightly bland aftertaste. If you want to make the most of the health potential of olive oil, it is best to use virgin or extra virgin Organic quality olive oils. Among the MANI oils you will find a consistently healthy selection!
5 reasons why olive oil is healthy
According to official information, people in the Mediterranean region suffer less frequently from arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease diseases and certain types of cancer. Is regular consumption of olive oil a reason for this? This fruitful suspicion was investigated in various studies and experiments – with the result that a balanced consumption of olive oil indeed has many positive effects.
Olive oil reduces inflammation
Inflammatory genes in the body become noticeable, for example, through the metabolic syndrome. Societal diseases such as diabetes, obesity and high blood sugar are just the beginning; cancer, heart disease or Alzheimer's are also partly caused by inflammation.
High-quality (native) olive oils shine with particularly high-quality ingredients. With high levels of antioxidants and monounsaturated fats, olive oil has been shown to help reduce or prevent inflammation. Polyphenols can also have an anti-inflammatory effect and even suppress genes that are relevant to the development of inflammation. This has a lasting effect on human health!
Olive oil does not apply only as green, but also as healthy "kitchen gold"
Olive oil for cardiovascular disease
The higher the proportion of secondary plant substances in an oil, the more heart-healthy it is does it affect Olive oils with a particularly high proportion of secondary plant substances can officially be described as health-promoting. The beneficial ingredients are in the outer layers of the fruit and can only be absorbed by us humans through plants. Incidentally, the polyphenol content of an olive oil can be recognized, among other things, by the taste: An oil with many secondary plant substances stands out with a sharp, bitter note.
The polyphenol content of olives mainly depends on when they are harvested. An early harvest in combination with a gentle manufacturing process leads to a pronounced polyphenol content in the finished olive oil. Olive oil rich in polyphenols acts as an antioxidant and protects the body harmful environmental influences. In order to achieve a sufficient protective effect against oxidative stress, according to EU regulation (No. 432/2012), up to 2 tablespoons must be consumed daily.
In addition, olive oil improves blood flow and thus lowers blood pressure. A lower blood pressure also means a lower risk for the heart and circulation!
Olive oil stabilizes blood sugar levels
It's all a matter of combination! With its anti-inflammatory properties, olive oil creates first-class conditions for healthy food enjoyment. Coupled with a conscious diet, it reaches its highest form of healing. The Mediterranean diet has taken up this potential and made use of it: in the form of a body-conscious way of life!
The traditional Mediterranean menu features whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables and Fish prepared in olive oil. This type of diet stabilizes blood sugar levels, reduces the risk of diabetes and prevents weight problems. Olive oil also helps diabetic patients at risk of insulin resistance in the long term to low insulin levels and low fasting blood sugar levels.
Sourdough bread with olive oil dip not only tastes good , but is also healthy
Olive oil for skin & hair
Although always said that it's what's on the inside that counts in the first place, it's not to be despised when a product with a lot of content is also “superficial” serves. When used externally, olive oil also achieves excellent results that are literally impressive. The successful mixture of protective antioxidants and nourishing vitamin E flatters the skin in a natural way and at the same time slows down the aging process of the cells.
(N)one hairy thing: olive oil is also suitable as a restorative hair treatment. The plant-based edible oil gives the hair shine, grip and new strength. If you use pure olive oil for hair care, however, you should only put the oil on the tips and be aware that it takes one or two hair washes before the hair loses the slightly oily film.
In the manufacture of plant-based cosmetics, many well-known companies now rely on the “green gold”. Olive oil triumphs as an ingredient in face masks, hand creams, body lotions, soaps and many other care products. MANI also has its own organic natural cosmetics line.
Tip : Studies have shown that you can reduce the risk of skin cancer by rubbing yourself with olive oil immediately after sunbathing.
Olive oil against psychological complaints
Mens sana in corpore sano - a healthy spirit (lives) in a healthy body: the ancient Romans already knew that body and psyche are connected. Is that why olive oils are said to have a positive effect on mental health? A kitchen routine containing olive oil is said to counteract depression and improve mood. However, this field of research is still in its infancy.
Conclusion
Basically, you can hold on : Olive oil is healthy, but not every reach into the oil shelf is crowned with success. Cheap olive oils sometimes lack healthy ingredients. However, those who rely on high-quality products invest equally in taste and health. The health quality of an olive oil depends on …
- Olive harvest time
- Manufacturing process and temperature
- Cooking or frying temperature : (Native) olive oils should not be heated above 180 °C!
Oils with a pronounced Polyphenol content is particularly beneficial to health and can therefore also be found in the MANI range!
MANI Managing Director Felix Bläuel: „For around 40 years, practical sustainability through the appreciation of people and nature has been important to us. Therefore we are pleased to present the extra virgin olive oil ‚ polyphenol’ to be able to contribute to the health of MANI customers with a polyphenol content of 500 mg/kg. Many are not even aware of the positive effects of olive oil polyphenols on the body. As pioneers in the field of organic olives and oils, we would also like to use the launch of the product to focus on these great properties.”
Sources:
https://academic.oup.com/ carcin/article/21/11/2085/2908770?login=false
https://utopia.de/ratgeber /olivenoel-so-healthy-it-is-for-our-bodies/ including linked studies:
