Benefits of Olives For Health
Olives are a powerful and delicious fruit that can provide the human body with a range of health benefits including their ability to protect against heart diseases, prevent bone loss, prevent various cancers, reduce inflammation and arthritis and improve digestion. They help to soothe allergic reactions, improve blood circulation, boost cognitive function, defend against infections, and lower the blood pressure.
What are Olives?
Olives are fruits, which are commonly found in the Eastern Mediterranean region and are known as Olea Europaea botanically. The word “olive” is actually derived from various European languages, and it appears in literature and history of countless Mediterranean empires and cultures. Although they are now available throughout the world, this is the area where they first came to prominence, as well as in the northern regions of Iraq and Iran. They have been used for their culinary value and medicinal benefits for thousands of years, stretching all the way back to ancient times of Greece and Rome. Olive oil gets a lot of attention because it is so functional in cooking, and is hailed as having a more concentrated form of nutrients than the olive fruit itself.
There are many species of olives, and some may have more or less of the important components that add to your health. However, all the species possess certain elements that make them irreplaceable in a healthy diet. They are best when added to salads, sandwiches, or eaten as a salty snack or appetizer. Their oil is used in countless recipes, and the olive trees are sources of rich extracted oil and high-quality wood for construction. Basically, every part of the olive tree is important, and people around the world have valued it for thousands of years; they can’t all be wrong!
Nutritional Value of Olives
The health and medicinal benefits of olives mainly come from its nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds, including iron, fiber, copper, vitamin E, phenolic compounds, oleic acid, and a variety of antioxidants.
Health Benefits of Olives
Let’s explore the health benefits in greater detail below.
Lower Bone Loss
People eating a traditional “Mediterranean diet” have been found to have lower instances of bone loss and osteoporosis, but the definite explanation behind this phenomenon was only discovered recently. The compound mentioned earlier, hydroxytyrosol, as well as oleuropein, have been positively linked in research studies to increased calcium deposition and bone growth, leading to a distinct drop in osteoporosis. Add a healthy amount of olives or olive oil to your diet if you are already at a risk for bone degeneration, or if you have some family history of it.
Aids Digestion
Olives are a healthy source of fiber, supplying almost 20% of the daily requirements for fiber in a single cup. High fiber content ensures a proper functioning of your digestive system. It stimulates peristaltic motion in the intestines, ensuring smooth bowel movements. Fiber also makes you feel full, so ghrelin, the hunger hormone, doesn’t get released, and therefore, overeating can be controlled. Not only can fiber increase your digestive and gastrointestinal health, it can also help you lose weight. Fiber also boosts heart health by working to eliminate excess cholesterol in the blood.
Improve Heart Health
Heart disease is one of the most deadly and widespread health conditions throughout the world. So people are always looking for ways to improve heart health and defend against all of the factors that can contribute to atherosclerosis, heart attacks, plaque build-up, cardiovascular diseases, and strokes. Olives possess a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid, which has been linked to preventing heart diseases. The oil of olives is where this oleic acid is located, and it is responsible for lowering the blood pressure, which reduces the chances of cardiovascular complications and general stress on the system.
Furthermore, olives are rich in phenolic compounds, which are commonly linked to cancer prevention, but also serve a major purpose in protecting the heart. Phenolic compounds like hydroxytyrosol act as anticoagulants to thin the blood, which reduces the chances of blood clots developing and dangerously blocking the flow of blood. Apart from that, the same phenolic compound also eases the blood vessel tension and dilates the blood vessels, which reduces the strain on the heart and increases blood flow around the body in a healthy way. This ensures a proper functioning and oxygenation of the various organ systems.
Treat Allergies
In relation to their anti-inflammatory activities, olives can also help to reduce the intensity or frequency of allergic reactions. Certain components of olives function as anti-histamines by blocking the receptor sites for histamines, which induce allergic reactions. By adding olives to your diet, you may reduce the signs of seasonal allergies, as well as specific allergic reactions. This is a powerful and beneficial aspect of olives that is often overlooked.
Improve Circulation
Olives are a rich source of both iron and copper, two essential components for the creation of red blood cells. Without these two minerals, red blood cell count in the body will diminish, resulting in anemia. It is characterized by fatigue, upset stomachs, headaches, cognitive malfunction, and a general decline of organ health and functionality.
Antibacterial Qualities
Oleuropein, a valuable chemical component of olives, also functions as an antimicrobial and antibacterial agent for the body. Eating plenty of olives increases the presence of this chemical, which defends against bacterial infections throughout the body, both internally and externally.
