Olives- 13 Impressive Health Benefits

Olives are a powerful and delicious fruit that can provide the human body with a range of health benefits including their ability to prevent bone loss, prevent various cancers, reduce inflammation and arthritis, improve digestion, soothe allergic reactions, improve blood circulation, protect against heart disease, boost cognitive function, defend against infections, and lower blood pressure.

What Are Olives?

Olives are perhaps best known in the Eastern Mediterranean region. 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. The word “olive” is actually derived from those languages, and it appears in literature and history of countless Mediterranean empires and cultures. 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 component that adds 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

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 disease, 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 lower 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 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.

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 phenolic compounds 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.

Prevent Cancer

The mystery surrounding the “cure for cancer” remains a major problem in the world today. There are many alternative ways to treat, slow down, or even prevent cancer from occurring. First of all, olives contain anthocyanins, which are positively connected to cancer prevention as an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory substance. Antioxidants defend the body against free radicals, which mutate healthy cells into cancerous ones, so adding as many antioxidants as you can, is the best way to protect yourself.

Secondly, olives have oleic acid as mentioned earlier, which inhibit certain growth factor receptors that trigger the development of breast cancer. Lastly, the phenolic compounds in olives come into play for a third time, working to prevent DNA mutation and abnormal cell growth. In other words, it acts as a second type of antioxidant. Even the skin of the olive contains maslinic, which has been connected to a programmed cell death (apoptosis) in colon cancer cells.

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Reduce Inflammation

Various compounds in olives function not only as antioxidant compounds but also anti-inflammatory ones. These reduce the inflammation from the body, which includes a reduction in pain and irritation in the joints, muscles, injuries, tendons, and other extremities. Particularly in terms of arthritis, gout, and other rheumatic conditions, olives can be a major benefit and it alleviates the associated pain.

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.

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.

A Few Words of Warning: Olives are generally an extremely healthy food. However, there are some seasonal allergies associated with olive tree pollen, which can sometimes get into the olives so allergic reactions are not unheard of. Also, consider the potent acids and organic compounds in olives and olive oil. It is not recommended to eat too many olives while pregnant or breastfeeding, as insufficient studies have been done on the transference of material from the mother to the child. Finally, olives do contain high levels of sodium. If you already suffer from high blood pressure or related cardiovascular conditions, you might be better off finding a different food to treat your heart conditions, rather than exacerbating them with more sodium.

Other than these warnings, enjoy olives in their different forms and see how healthy they can make you feel.

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