fume711
04-24-2007, 08:19 PM
http://food.yahoo.com/blog/beautyeats/8039/5-reasons-why-olive-oil-is-the-ultimate-healthy-fat
before reading the article, keep in mind, from comments, so don't know how true it is:
I think while EVOO offers many health benefits it should be noted the benefits of EVOO are mostly in it's raw state. Once it is heated the molecular structure is changed and it becomes a trans fat, which is not so great. If you need a cooking oil for sauting or stir fry coconut is a great alternative, it is a saturated fat but it does not turn into a trans fat due to its high flash point. It has long been thought to be high in cholesteral but recent research is dispelling that myth. Also, both oils are great for skin care!
"Once it is heated the molecular structure is changed and it becomes a trans fat" That is patently untrue. Basically, trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil--a process called hydrogenation. Partial hydrogenation changes a fat's molecular structure (raising its melting point and reducing rancidity), but this process also results in a portion of the changed fat becoming trans fat. Simply heating olive oil, as in cooking with it, does NOT cause it to become a "trans fat." Good grief.
MAke sure it is cold pressed, nutrients are lost when the olives are heated.
yeah but it does fail to mention that olive oil may raise your cholesterol level. Unsaturated fats have a dentency to do that.
Its best to referigerate because its taste changes if its left on the counter for a longer period.You can also store it in a cool dark place.
I adore EVOO and use it in practically everything I cook. My favorite use is in pasta. I cook up some spaghetti and instead of drowning it in sauce, I just use a little EVOO on it and some fresh herbs and it is so good! Much healthier. And you can use EVOO on your hair to repair split ends and on your skin to sooth rough patches. I use it on my elbows (which are always rough) and it helps!
Adding extra virgin olive oil and wild salmon oil to my diet has helped with my chronic dry skin and joint stiffness.
olive oil is good but Pecan Oil is even better for you with 1/3 less saturated fat than olive oil. www.pecanoil.com
One should also note that if you cook with olive oil it is far better than any other oils, but once it reaches a certain heat the essential nutrients are lessened. This is however a far better alternative to cooking with canola or vegetable oil or worse. Microwaving also destroys most of the health of olive oils. For the most healthy look for First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil and incorporate it as the main ingredient to a great salad dressing.
It is true that EVOO should only be used in the raw form and should not be used for cooking. It will become a partially hydrogenated transfat if heated.
Unfornunately many of the articles in the Western Countries leave out the time tested good things from India, China and other ancient civilizations. Sesamy oil (also called "gingeley oil") has been used in Asia for thousands of years and may be equal to or even better than Olive oil as the ultimate "healthy fat". In Asia, Sesamy oil is not only used in the daily preparation of food, but even applied on the skin and hair to promote skin health & hair growth. The author of the "Olive Oil" artcile should also research and write about the health advantages of Seasamy Oil and othr "good things" from Asia and the Far East. (India & China have civilizations and an indigenous knowledge base which is more than 3000 years old - including "Acupuncture" & "Kama Sutra" !!)
And now on to the article
5 Reasons Why Olive Oil is the Ultimate Healthy Fat
Posted Tue, Apr 10, 2007, 3:19 pm PDT
POST A COMMENT »
Whether in Rome or at home, do as the Romans do: Make olive oil a staple. If you already eat the Mediterranean way, you know that the oil not only tastes good but that it is good for you. It's an amazing source of antioxidants, capable of dousing inflammation, defending cells from menacing molecules, and more. Here's the latest on this superhero food.
IT CUTS YOUR CANCER RISK
Olive oil's cancer-preventing powers are lab legends. Which substances get the credit? Polyphenols, for one -- these potent plant antioxidants protect against cancer-causing cell damage. But it also looks like the oil's monounsaturated fat has anti-cancer effects, which means olive oil packs quite a one-two punch! Some people-proof: Check the lower rates of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer among Southern Europeans -- whose diets flow with olive oil -- compared to their northern neighbors.
IT HELPS YOUR HEART
There's virtually nothing better than the big "double O" when it comes to your heart. Olive oil ups good HDL cholesterol, lowers bad LDL, and reduces other harmful blood fats (triglycerides). And that's not all. It also reduces inflammation, another contributor to cardiovascular disease.
IT KEEPS YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN
Speaking of your heart, how's your blood pressure? If it's not below 120/80, you need to get it there. And yes, olive oil plays a role. It can help enough to reduce the need for daily meds. Those potent polyphenols appear to dilate arteries, which brings blood pressure down. (Always choose extra-virgin olive oil, by the way -- its minimal processing preserves the maximum number of antioxidants and heat-sensitive vitamins.)
IT HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT
"Great taste, less filling" -- that light beer slogan rings true for olive oil. While ounce for ounce, all oils have the same calories, olive oil has a fuller flavor so less is needed for tantalizing taste. Plus research shows that overweight people who eat a diet with some fat -- including olive oil -- are more likely to shed pounds than those who slash fat. Why? Oil's rich flavor makes it easier to stick with the program.
IT EASES YOUR ACHING HEAD
If you're prone to headaches and wary of overdoing ibuprofen, try routinely dressing your salad or crisp-tender veggies in extra-virgin olive oil. It contains oleocanthal, a natural compound that, like ibuprofen, blocks pain-producing and inflammatory substances -- but without the risk of stomach upset. While daily oleocanthal doses aren't the painkiller's complete equal, they could lower your risk for heart disease, cancer, arthritis and possibly Alzheimer's. Quite a trade-off.
before reading the article, keep in mind, from comments, so don't know how true it is:
I think while EVOO offers many health benefits it should be noted the benefits of EVOO are mostly in it's raw state. Once it is heated the molecular structure is changed and it becomes a trans fat, which is not so great. If you need a cooking oil for sauting or stir fry coconut is a great alternative, it is a saturated fat but it does not turn into a trans fat due to its high flash point. It has long been thought to be high in cholesteral but recent research is dispelling that myth. Also, both oils are great for skin care!
"Once it is heated the molecular structure is changed and it becomes a trans fat" That is patently untrue. Basically, trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil--a process called hydrogenation. Partial hydrogenation changes a fat's molecular structure (raising its melting point and reducing rancidity), but this process also results in a portion of the changed fat becoming trans fat. Simply heating olive oil, as in cooking with it, does NOT cause it to become a "trans fat." Good grief.
MAke sure it is cold pressed, nutrients are lost when the olives are heated.
yeah but it does fail to mention that olive oil may raise your cholesterol level. Unsaturated fats have a dentency to do that.
Its best to referigerate because its taste changes if its left on the counter for a longer period.You can also store it in a cool dark place.
I adore EVOO and use it in practically everything I cook. My favorite use is in pasta. I cook up some spaghetti and instead of drowning it in sauce, I just use a little EVOO on it and some fresh herbs and it is so good! Much healthier. And you can use EVOO on your hair to repair split ends and on your skin to sooth rough patches. I use it on my elbows (which are always rough) and it helps!
Adding extra virgin olive oil and wild salmon oil to my diet has helped with my chronic dry skin and joint stiffness.
olive oil is good but Pecan Oil is even better for you with 1/3 less saturated fat than olive oil. www.pecanoil.com
One should also note that if you cook with olive oil it is far better than any other oils, but once it reaches a certain heat the essential nutrients are lessened. This is however a far better alternative to cooking with canola or vegetable oil or worse. Microwaving also destroys most of the health of olive oils. For the most healthy look for First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil and incorporate it as the main ingredient to a great salad dressing.
It is true that EVOO should only be used in the raw form and should not be used for cooking. It will become a partially hydrogenated transfat if heated.
Unfornunately many of the articles in the Western Countries leave out the time tested good things from India, China and other ancient civilizations. Sesamy oil (also called "gingeley oil") has been used in Asia for thousands of years and may be equal to or even better than Olive oil as the ultimate "healthy fat". In Asia, Sesamy oil is not only used in the daily preparation of food, but even applied on the skin and hair to promote skin health & hair growth. The author of the "Olive Oil" artcile should also research and write about the health advantages of Seasamy Oil and othr "good things" from Asia and the Far East. (India & China have civilizations and an indigenous knowledge base which is more than 3000 years old - including "Acupuncture" & "Kama Sutra" !!)
And now on to the article
5 Reasons Why Olive Oil is the Ultimate Healthy Fat
Posted Tue, Apr 10, 2007, 3:19 pm PDT
POST A COMMENT »
Whether in Rome or at home, do as the Romans do: Make olive oil a staple. If you already eat the Mediterranean way, you know that the oil not only tastes good but that it is good for you. It's an amazing source of antioxidants, capable of dousing inflammation, defending cells from menacing molecules, and more. Here's the latest on this superhero food.
IT CUTS YOUR CANCER RISK
Olive oil's cancer-preventing powers are lab legends. Which substances get the credit? Polyphenols, for one -- these potent plant antioxidants protect against cancer-causing cell damage. But it also looks like the oil's monounsaturated fat has anti-cancer effects, which means olive oil packs quite a one-two punch! Some people-proof: Check the lower rates of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer among Southern Europeans -- whose diets flow with olive oil -- compared to their northern neighbors.
IT HELPS YOUR HEART
There's virtually nothing better than the big "double O" when it comes to your heart. Olive oil ups good HDL cholesterol, lowers bad LDL, and reduces other harmful blood fats (triglycerides). And that's not all. It also reduces inflammation, another contributor to cardiovascular disease.
IT KEEPS YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN
Speaking of your heart, how's your blood pressure? If it's not below 120/80, you need to get it there. And yes, olive oil plays a role. It can help enough to reduce the need for daily meds. Those potent polyphenols appear to dilate arteries, which brings blood pressure down. (Always choose extra-virgin olive oil, by the way -- its minimal processing preserves the maximum number of antioxidants and heat-sensitive vitamins.)
IT HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT
"Great taste, less filling" -- that light beer slogan rings true for olive oil. While ounce for ounce, all oils have the same calories, olive oil has a fuller flavor so less is needed for tantalizing taste. Plus research shows that overweight people who eat a diet with some fat -- including olive oil -- are more likely to shed pounds than those who slash fat. Why? Oil's rich flavor makes it easier to stick with the program.
IT EASES YOUR ACHING HEAD
If you're prone to headaches and wary of overdoing ibuprofen, try routinely dressing your salad or crisp-tender veggies in extra-virgin olive oil. It contains oleocanthal, a natural compound that, like ibuprofen, blocks pain-producing and inflammatory substances -- but without the risk of stomach upset. While daily oleocanthal doses aren't the painkiller's complete equal, they could lower your risk for heart disease, cancer, arthritis and possibly Alzheimer's. Quite a trade-off.