Rich in antioxidants Olives are rich in plant compounds called polyphenols which have effective antioxidant properties. The beneficial effects of these compounds include reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer.
Nutritional value: Both green olives and black olives are nutritious, but if you're looking for the healthiest olive option, green wins by a narrow margin. The reason is that green olives tend to be higher in polyphenols (antioxidants with anti-inflammatory benefits) than black olives.
It is worth noting that food producers usually preserve olives in brine, which has a high salt content. Over time, excess levels of salt in the body can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke, so people should eat olives in moderation.
Olives are an antioxidant-rich food. That means every time you eat them you send an army of good-guy neutralizers into your system to help those bad-guy free radicals chill out. Managing free radicals via intentional intake of antioxidants is a key part of healthy living and olives are a delicious way to do that.
Examples of superfoods are extra virgin olive oil, legumes, quinoa, broccoli, turmeric, ginger or avocado .. The Mediterranean diet, for its variety and richness, includes some of these superfoods, and among them is the olive.
Due to their high salt content, whole olives won't count towards your 5-a-day. The oil they contain is part of the healthy Mediterranean diet, though, and is a good substitute for butter. Just don't treat it as a vegetable.
Olives are inedible before they are cured. Many people don't know that olives are actually inedible when they are first picked. Raw olives straight from the tree contain oleuropein, an extremely bitter compound that makes olives completely unpalatable.
Mainly, olives are rich in vitamin E and antioxidants — two things your liver loves. “Olive oil is very healthy for your liver,” notes Dr. Lindenmeyer. “Olive oil raises your good cholesterol, which is actually protective for your liver against fatty liver disease and also separately good for your heart.”
Olives are one of the best heart-healthy foods you can snack on because of their high levels of monounsaturated fats.
If you're trying to boost your vitamin E intake, green olives are a healthier option than their black counterparts. People who need to limit their sodium intake should make olives only an occasional part of their diet, but black olives are the better option when you do include them in a meal or recipe.
Are anti-inflammatory. One of the polyphenols in olives is called oleocanthal. This compound appears to share the same pharmacological activity as ibuprofen, and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. Interestingly, this useful property has been associated with positive changes in those with rheumatoid arthritis.
Olives are salty because they are cured in a salt water brine. This isn't optional; they're inedible before they're cured. You can reduce their saltiness by rinsing or soaking them in fresh water.
Whether steeped in oil or a salt brine, olives only become truly edible after curing. The raw fruit is bursting with oleuropein, a bitter compound that must be removed prior to eating.
They're the ultimate heart-healthy snack.
Olives are chock-full of monounsaturated fatty acids, a type of fat linked with lowering LDL ("bad" cholesterol) while maintaining HDL ("good" cholesterol").
They are full of rich antioxidants, and studies link diets including regular servings of olives with a number of impressive results. Kalamata olives may reduce your risks of heart disease. This is due to the presence of hydroxytyrosol in the olives.
Enhance Your Memory
One word: polyphenols. That's the natural-occurring chemical in olives that is known to improve memory by reducing stress in the brain. Even better? Consuming more olives or olive products can help lower your risk of memory-related diseases like Alzheimer's or dementia.
Olive and flaxseed oils have a mild laxative effect, helping to ease the flow of materials through the intestines. These oils also contain compounds that improve digestion and have antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Olives. "Foods rich in healthy fats like olives, nuts, and avocados are great nighttime snacks that can keep you feeling fuller longer and also help to stabilize blood sugar levels," says Dr.
One can eat olives at any time of the day. However, they are rich in healthy fats. Therefore one can eat them before bedtime, if you wish to have a healthy night time snack. In addition, they balance blood sugar, help you feel fuller, and aid a good night's sleep.
They can cause low blood sugar and pressure.
While it may sound strange, oil from green olives can actually lower blood sugar levels below normal, which can make you prone to some types of health complications, including excessive sweating, hypoglycemia, trembling and feeling weak.
The essential fatty acids in olives also increase the levels of high-density lipoproteins, HDLs, which basically bulldoze those LDLs right out of your bloodstream. This means your body works more efficiently at all of its tasks, including burning calories.
According to dietitian Chloe McLeod, one serving of olives usually consists of between five to ten, and for olives to make up a serve of vegetables (half a cup) you'd have to eat about 30.