The health benefits
Lower Blood Pressure
Wait? Fats that help our blood pressure?
Juliette Kellow, a Registered Dietitian, along with Dr. Sarah Brewer wrote a book named EAT BETTER LIVE LONGER – Understanding What Your Body Needs to Stay Healthy. On pages 130 and 131, Olive Oil is listed as a Wonderfood. They state, “Olive Oil is a well-known ingredient of the Mediterranean diet and has many bonuses related to cholesterol, blood pressure, age-related diseases, and cognitive function. The benefits don’t stop there though – it may also help to prevent certain types of cancer.”
Switching from butter to EVOO could help with blood pressure
A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, for example, shows that olive oil can lower blood pressure and make blood pressure-lowering medications less necessary. The study involved 23 people on medication to control high blood pressure who were divided into two groups. Both groups ate a nutritionally balanced diet that was identical except for the oil used.
During the first 6 months, one group used olive oil and the other sunflower oil. During the last 6 months the two groups switched the type of oil they used. It was found that when the group used the olive oil, their systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure fell by an average of 7 points; but the sunflower oil had no effect.
Our Recommendations for Your Health
All of our extra virgin olive oil products are rich in polyphenols and high quality vitamins. Olive oil may reduce the risk of developing a plethora of diseases and medical conditions, including certain types of cancer. A basic kitchen staple, extra virgin olive oil is considered an essential cooking oil at home that also enriches your food with vital anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Cooking extra virgin olive oil with your meals will incorporate these valuable nutrients into your diet, while also adding a delicious flavor to your food. There are countless ways that the effects of olive oil can be noted in your life, but improving and protecting your health is perhaps the most notable.
