Extra virgin olive oil is one of the key ingredients in this diet, protecting against heart disease in several ways (19). It lowers inflammation, protects “bad” LDL cholesterol from oxidation, improves the lining of your blood vessels and may help prevent excessive blood clotting ( 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ).
Eating olive oil once a week may be associated with making blood less likely to clot in obese people. Study Highlight: Eating olive oil more frequently among healthy obese adults was associated with less platelet activity in the blood. Platelets are blood cell fragments that stick together to form clots.
Extra virgin olive oil inhibits abnormal platelet aggregation that underlies most heart attacks and ischemic strokes. Animal studies show that olive oil decreases atherosclerotic lesions, plaque size, and inflammatory responses.
While there is some truth to this (olive oil does appear to cause relatively less damage than saturated animal fats), it is important to note that 'less damage' is still damage. The scientific evidence clearly shows that olive oil plays a role both in damaging blood vessels as well as forming atherosclerotic plaques.
The ancient Greeks were on to something when they referred to olive oil as an "elixir of youth and health." Centuries later, research offers evidence about the benefits of olive oil in our daily diets. Consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil a day may lower heart disease risk, a 2020 study found.
Olive oil is one of the best all-natural solutions available for cleansing liver. By drinking large amounts of olive oil, liver gets the signal to open the bile ducts. As the bile ducts open up to process extra quantities of the oil, anything that was previously stuck also flows out easily.
As a general rule of thumb, between one and two tablespoons a day is a good amount of olive oil to consume. This goes for both olive oil that you drink for health benefits and also olive oil that you consume with food as part of your regular cooking process.
(Reuters Health) - A traditional Mediterranean diet with added olive oil may be tied to a lower risk of heart disease at least in part because it helps maintain healthy blood flow and clear debris from arteries, a Spanish study suggests.
Blood vessels become more flexible and healthier (Oleic Acid in olive oil protects blood vessels) HDL (good) cholesterol increases from monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA's) in olive oil.
The monounsaturated fats in olive oil offer several health benefits. However, excess consumption of olive oil may cause several side effects. It may cause acne, allergies, skin rashes, blackheads, and saturated- and trans-fat-related diseases. It may also cause diarrhea and inflammation in some people.
Vitamin E is a natural blood thinner because of its anticoagulant effects. Studies support that vitamin E has anti-clotting activity and works as a potent blood thinner. Supplementing with vitamin E and consuming vitamin E foods can help prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Some common essential oils that can present the highest risk of thinning a patient's blood include: Betula lenta (Birch, sweet), Allium sativum (garlic), Origanum onites (Oregano), Artemisia dracunculus (Tarragon) and Gaultheria fragrantissima (Wintergreen).
Optimum Daily Intake
According to the US FDA, our daily intake of monounsaturated fatty acids should be at least around 17.5 grams, which is about 1.5 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. So consume a tablespoon of olive oil daily, instead of cooking with it.
Folks who consume more than 1/2 a tablespoon of olive oil a day are less likely to die from heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or lung disease when compared to people who consume less of this healthy fat, a new study finds.
You can “unclog” your arteries with natural methods, including diet, exercise, and stress management. Quitting smoking, if you smoke, can also help reverse plaque.
Similarly, an earlier study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that antioxidants called phenols in virgin olive oil helped prevent blood clots. In the study, people who consumed virgin olive oil with a high phenol content had lower levels of a substance that promotes blood clots.
A group of doctors and medical researchers have backed olive oil as a heart-healthy food, while raising concerns about fad diets and the use of coconut and palm oils.
Specifically, researchers have found that having the extra virgin olive oil before you sleep may be the wisest time of day to have it.
Olive Oil Has Strong Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Extra-virgin olive oil can reduce inflammation, which may be one of the main reasons for its health benefits. The main anti-inflammatory effects are mediated by the antioxidants.
Consuming between one teaspoon and one tablespoon (three teaspoons) of olive oil should be enough to get you the benefits without upsetting your stomach. While you can drink olive oil at any time of day, many people say that they prefer to do it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Olive oil is a healthy source of fat and phosphorus-free, making it a great option for people with kidney disease. Frequently, people with advanced kidney disease have trouble keeping weight on, making healthy, high calorie foods like olive oil important.
The benefits of taking a spoonful of olive oil every morning on an empty stomach: Improves the functioning of the digestive system: stimulates intestinal transit, promotes the absorption of nutrients, reduces gastric acidity … It reinforces its anti-inflammatory properties, which help to alleviate gastritis.