Health Benefits Of Stuffed Olives With Garlic

While olives contain only small amounts of nutrients, they do contain potent chemicals that have significant health benefits. Garlic adds flavor to the olives, but the jury is still out on its health benefits. Don't bother with buying olives stuffed with garlic from a jar in your local grocery -- the garlic loses its crunch during the manufacturing process. Turn to the bulk foods section for olives with garlic that provide both a flavorful crunch and healthy nutrition.

Garlic and Health

Ancient people throughout the world used garlic for digestive remedies and skin diseases. Soldiers in World War II used it to treat wounds. A 2008 report from the University of Maryland Medical Center explains that the antioxidants in garlic may help prevent some cancers, may protect against heart disease by reducing cholesterol and blood pressure levels and may improve your immune system. However, even though scientific studies show promise for these claims, none of them are definitive.

Nutrients in Garlic

Garlic contains only very small amounts of vitamins and minerals, but it is an excellent source of the mineral selenium, according to the editors of "The Visual Food Lover's Guide." Selenium is the antioxidant in garlic that repairs unstable molecules in your cells and also regulates thyroid hormones.

Olives and Health

Olives are one of the oldest cultivated crops. Like garlic, they contain only traces of vitamins and minerals, but they have significant health benefits nonetheless. Each olive contains 12 percent to 30 percent of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, according to "The Visual Food Lover's Guide." Donald Hensrud, a doctor writing for MayoClinic.com, explains that monounsaturated fats can lower your risk of heart disease by lowering total cholesterol and bad, LDL cholesterol levels. He adds that the fats also help with blood clotting and controlling blood sugar levels. You'll get more healthy benefits from olive oil directly, but the olives themselves also provide these benefits.

Using Olives with Garlic

With only 8 calories each, according to the USDA Nutrient Database, olives stuffed with garlic make a good choice as everyday or special-occasion appetizers. Mark Bittman, food writer for The New York Times, likes to marinate olives overnight in a mixture of crushed garlic, rosemary, thyme and lemon peel. Another option is to follow the Food Channel recipe for olive appetizers: Warm the olives for five minutes in a heavy skillet over low heat with a small amount of olive oil, garlic, rosemary and orange zest.