BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL

Benefits of olive oil are countless. It is being used in the Mediterranean countries since ages. People in India have also started using this oil in their cooking process and beauty regimen also.

I would like to share some of the benefits that this oil has got. But first let us discuss the different types of olive oils available. Olive oil as we all know is extracted from olives and there are basically 5 different types of olive oil found today. They are as follows:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Virgin olive oil
• Pure olive oil
• Refined olive oil
• Olive and pomace oil mixed

Each type of olive oil has different uses and benefits.

• Extra virgin Olive oil- Used as dressings in salads. This is extracted by cold pressed method and it retains the aroma and taste the best amongst all other olive oil variants.
• Virgin Olive oil- Mainly used  for cooking, baking and it is slightly acidic in nature. This oil is also extracted by cold pressed method of extraction.
• Pure Olive oil-For hair and skin massage this oil is used as it contains more vitamin E.
• Refined Olive oi-For cooking, mainly Indian style of food and is extracted from black olives.
• Olive Pomace Oil- For polishing and cleaning household items. It is generally not suitable for cooking as it is very low in quality. It is basically extracted from the residue and contains very low amounts of olive oil in it.

BEAUTY BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL:

Mainly pure olive oil is used in case of beauty regimen for skin and hair. Please do not use any adulterated version of olive oil as you might get some adverse effect. I have tries to list some of them in this excerpt.

SKIN:

Advantage:

• Olive oil is loaded with vitamins like E, A and D.
• This oil acts as a beautiful moisturiser and a skin hydrant.
• People with acne prone skin can also use this oil.
• You have to ensure that since olive oil is a very heavy oil and its absorption in skin is very slow, just swipe of the excess oil after a good massage with a clean tissue.
• Regular massage with olive oil on your skin ensures a healthy glowing skin, specially if you are affected by sunrays and have sun -burn on yourself.

Disadvantage:

If you are suffering from any kind of dermatological conditions like dermatitis or eczema, kindly refrain yourself from using this oil as it may aggravate. Kindly consult your dermatologist before doing so. I would always recommend you to do a patch test before your apply anything on your skin.

HAIR:

Advantage:

• Due to olive oil’s moisturising properties, it renders moisture to each strand of your hair.
• This helps in reducing breakage.
• Regular usage of olive oil ensures that your hair becomes soft, smooth and silky and frizz free.
• Hair roots become stronger and thicker.

Disadvantage:

• Since this oil is a bit greasy in nature, it makes your hair limp and oily.
• If you are suffering from dandruff, then please consult before using this oil as this might increase the infection further.
• Apply a small amount. Do not go overboard while applying this oil  and try to apply on lengths of your hair.

COOKING BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL:

We in our daily dose of cooking, use extra virgin olive oil as dressings for our salads and use virgin olive oil for cooking purposes.  in Mediterranean diet, olive oil is used as the primary fat component.

Advantages:

• According to studies conducted by the World Health organisation, life expectancy of people in the Mediterranean is longer than in Western countries because of consumption of olive oil in their regular diet.
• Olive oil is rich in tocopherol, polyphenol and fatty alcohol which contribute towards the anti-inflammatory properties.
• Causes of  myocardial infarction like Atherosclerosis, hypertension and other heart related diseases can be prevented to a certain extent because of presence of micro-nutrients in olive oil.
• Your daily consumption of olive oil can fulfil the requirements of a plant based MUFA as olive oil is one of the richest source of it.
• Adults suffering from constipation may get relief from consuming olive oil in specific doses.
• Olive oil helps in increase of bone density and thus increases your bone health.

Disadvantages:

• It is highly rich in calories.
• If you consume in excess, it might lead to weight gain. So moderation advised.

CONCLUSION:

benefits of olive oil are undoubtable. It is extremely rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids and is one of the healthier options when it comes to fat intake in diet. But we should be careful about the quantity and if you are allergic, please do not consume or apply this oil.