Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Superfood

We all know it as EVOO thanks to Rachel Ray, but this superfood has some amazing benefits. Olive oil—made from the crushing and pressing of one of the oldest known foods, olives—has been enjoyed since as early as 3000 B.C. It is a staple of the extraordinarily healthy Mediterranean diet, and it is now believed that the consumption of olive oil is a prime reason for the positive aspects of this particular diet (www.superfoodsrx.com).

• Studies show olive oil helps lower blood pressure
• Has a beneficial effect on the vascular endothelium, the cells lining the blood vessels
• Another very interesting study found that not only did olive oil lower blood pressure, it also rendered medication less necessary for the participating subjects
• Rich source of antioxidants and other phytochemicals
• Olive oil can play a role in promoting cardiovascular health over and above its ability to reduce blood pressure
• Diets rich in olive oil have been shown to be effective in lowering total cholesterol and LDL, such as the Mediterranean Diet (consisting largely of plant-based foods—fruits, vegetables, coarsely ground grains, bread, beans, nuts, and seeds—as well as olive oil. Fish, poultry, and red meat are rare, special-occasion foods)
• The polyphenols in olive oil are potent antioxidants that help protect LDL from oxidation
• The presence of monounsaturated fatty acids help biologic membranes, like those of our cell walls, better resist oxidative damage
• There has been great interest in the role of olive oil in the development and prevention of breast cancer

Olive oil has a smoke point (the point in which the oil starts smoking in the pan) of 200 degrees, at which point it turns into Trans fat. Rather than cooking with olive oil, use it raw on salads or roast veggies with it. Use oil with a higher smoke point, such as Macadamia Nut oil.

(www.superfoodsrx.com)