Why you should consume a spoonful of olive oil every day for good health

health

by Adriana Diaz

Please change the oil.

Whether you sip it by the spoonful, drizzle it over ice cream, or pour it into your coffee, health experts tend to agree that there's no wrong way to incorporate olive oil into your diet.

Olive oil, also known as liquid gold, is the queen of fats, being monounsaturated and rich in antioxidants and other healthy compounds not found in animal or processed fats.

Research shows that those who make the switch also enjoy a number of health benefits.

What are the health benefits of olive oil?

It might be a good idea to sit down and try this.

One of the most commonly mentioned benefits of olive oil is its use as a natural laxative.

Constipation (infrequent or unpleasant bowel movements) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder, requiring millions of Americans to schedule expensive medical appointments each year.

“Constipation occurs because your colon (large intestine) absorbs too much water from your poop. This makes your poop dry, hard, and harder to push out of your body,” says a paper published by the Cleveland Clinic. I am.

Olive oil can help alleviate this problem. Fats soften your stool by calming your intestines and helping you absorb more water.

Studies have also shown that adding more olive oil to your diet may reduce your risk of dying from dementia, the seventh leading cause of death, according to the World Health Organization.

“Some antioxidant compounds in olive oil can cross the blood-brain barrier and may have direct effects on the brain,” said Dr. Anjulie Tessier of Harvard University. “Olive oil may also have indirect effects on brain health by benefiting cardiovascular health.”

Olive oil is also a key component of the Mediterranean diet and has been repeatedly shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially coronary heart disease, and death from all causes.

Other studies have shown that more than half a tablespoon of oil may reduce the risk of death from cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and respiratory diseases.

When should I drink olive oil?

Drinking a tablespoon or two of olive oil early in the morning on an empty stomach is especially effective.

In doing so, the oil lines your stomach, aiding digestion, eliminating waste, and regulating your gut flora throughout the day.

What type of olive oil should I buy?

Certain variations of olive oil use heat to extract as much juice as possible from the fruit.

However, extra virgin olive oil is made using a cold-pressing process and remains unrefined, so it retains some of its antioxidants and bioactive compounds.

Experts suggest giving them a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to get as many nutrients as possible.