Not only they taste really nice, but did you know that olives have a huge number of health benefits?
It is scientifically proven fact that Table olives are good source of omega fatty acids, Vitamin E, iron, dietary fibers, copper, monounsaturated fats, polyphenols and flavonoids.
Monounsaturated fats protect your heart!
Olives do contain fat, However it is monounsaturated fats, which has been found to shrink the risk of atherosclerosis and increase good cholesterol. Recent research studies have also shown that the monounsaturated fat found in olives (and olive oil) can help to decrease blood pressure. All of these changes lower our risk of heart disease.
Oleocanthal to avoid pain!
Spanish-style green olives, Kalamata-style olives, and many different methods of olive preparation provide us with valuable amounts of many different antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients which can act as a natural Ibuprofen. Their oils contain oleocanthal, a substance with anti-inflammatory agents.
Weight Loss!
Olives consumption has been shown to breakdown fats inside fat cells, get rid of belly fat and reduce insulin insensitivity.
People who have the highest olive consumption eat fewer calories overall and are rarely overweight. Blood tests show they have higher levels of serotonin, a so-called satiety hormone that makes us feel full.
The aroma extracts from olive oil can leave us feeling fuller, cutting our calorie intake by almost 200 a day!
Anti-inflammatory action against Asthma!
The anti-inflammatory actions of the MUFAs, vitamin E, polyphenols and flavonoids in olives may help reduce the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
New research may help explain how olives work to provide us with anti-inflammatory benefits, especially during circumstances involving allergy. Olive extracts have now been shown to function as anti-histamines at a cellular level. By blocking special histamine receptors (called H1 receptors), unique components in olive extracts may help to lessen a cell’s histamine response. Because histamine is a molecule that can get overproduced in allergy-related conditions and can be a key player in the inflammatory process, it’s likely that the anti-inflammatory benefits we get from olives involve this anti-histamine pathway.
It’s also possible that olives may have a special role to play as part of an overall anti-allergenic diet.
Cancer Prevention!
By providing us with rich supplies of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, olives can help us avoid this dangerous combination of chronic oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.
A higher intake of both vitamin E and the MUFAs in olives is associated with lower rates of colon cancer.
Studies have shown that a diet supplemented with olive oil leads to a lower risk of colon cancer, almost as low a risk as a diet rich in fish oil.
Vitamin E protects your Skin and Hair!
Table olives are rich in fatty acids and antioxidants that nourish, hydrate and protect. Chief among those is vitamin E. Whether applied topically or ingested, vitamin E has been shown to protect skin from ultraviolet radiation, thus guarding against skin cancer and premature aging.
In addition, eating olives can improve the appearance of wrinkles by 20% since they contain oleic acid, which keeps skin soft and healthy.
Vitamin A protects your eyes!
One cup of olives contains 10% of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin A which, when converted into the retinal form, is crucial for healthy eyes. It enables the eye to better distinguish between light and dark, thereby improving night vision. Furthermore, Vitamin A is believed effective against cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and other age-related ocular diseases
Polyphenols improve Memory!
Olives contain polyphenols, that reduce oxidative stress in the brain. So by eating a daily serving of olives helps improve your memory by up to 25%.