What’s Included In This Blog?
The health benefits of olives are plentiful and this is one of the main contributors to their global adoption. Olives have been grown across the world for thousands of years, starting in the Mediterranean and then spreading across to other areas in Europe, Africa, America and Asia.
In this blog we will be going through the main health benefits of olives and why they can be a great addition to your diet.
1. Olives Are High In Vitamin E
So, what is Vitamin E? It is a fat-soluble nutrient found in Olives that helps protect our cells from damage caused by things called ‘free-radicals’, Free radicals are compound cells formed when our bodies convert food into energy, they can also form when we are exposed to things such as smoke, air pollution and ultra-violet light. They are believed to cause things such as heart disease and some forms of cancer. This is one of the best health benefits of eating olives, it could literally save your life.
2. Olives Are Mineral Rich
- Iron – There are not a great deal of difference between the health benefits of black olives and the benefits of green olives but the main one is that Black olives are particularly high in Iron. Iron is essential to transport oxygen around the body using red blood cells.
- Copper – Copper is an especially important mineral that is missing in many western eating habits, a lack of copper can increase the risk of heart disease.
- Calcium – Calcium is great for bone, muscle and nerve health, and although most people get a lot of calcium in their diet, it is still the most prevalent mineral in our bodies so it can’t hurt to top it up with some delicious olives.
3. More Antioxidants
One big health benefit of eating olives is the sheer amount of antioxidants they contain. Although Vitamin E is most prevalent in our salty friends, there are many other powerful antioxidants in olives that deserve a mention.
Oleuropein, Hydroxytyrosol, Tyrosol, Oleanolic Acid and Quercetin are all found in olives and have health benefits that include but are not exclusive to, regulation of blood fats, a reduction in inflammation, lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of heart disease and an overall improvement of heart health.
4. Eating Olives Can Improve Bone Health
Studies have shown that cases of Osteoporosis were considerably lower in Mediterranean European countries where olives are grown than in countries where they are not. This is due to the plant compounds and calcium found in olives. Although human tests are not entirely conclusive at this stage, the bone health benefits of olives are proving reliable in animals and a decrease in fractures has been observed when exposed to a Mediterranean Diet.
5. Cancer Prevention
It is said that eating olives as part of a balanced diet can decrease your risk of certain types of cancer, namely, stomach, breast and colon. This is due to the aforementioned antioxidants that are found in all different types of olives.
6. Improving & Protecting Your Heart Health
As we all know, the heart is one of, if not the most important organ in the body and protecting it is of paramount importance. This is one of the most important health benefits of olives. Olives have been known to do amazing things for heart health, such as decreasing cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, improving the regulation of blood fats, reducing inflammation and decreasing the risk of heart disease. What’s not to love?
7. Decreasing The Appearance Of Wrinkles
Who knew olives could improve skin health and decrease the appearance of wrinkles? Don’t worry, we didn’t either. As you will know by now, olives are high in Vitamin E and contain high amounts of oleic acid which helps keep skin soft, healthy and most importantly youthful. It’s said that eating olives can improve the appearance of wrinkles by up to 20%.
8. Eating Olives Can Even Improve Your Memory
As stated above, olives contain polyphenols, this is a natural and healthy chemical that can reduce oxidative stress in the brain, it is believed that eating olives every day can improve the brains ability to memorise and recall information by up to 25%. This is according to a study done by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Now I think it’s safe to say I’ve given you enough health benefits of olives for you to consider incorporating them into your daily diet.
You buy olives directly from our online shop and we will send them anywhere in the UK with free postage, ours is the best olives by post service out there.
And now you can impress your friends with your knowledge of the health benefits of olives and why they should eat more of them too.
Thanks for reading, until next time.
William Price
West Country Olives
