1. The Heart-Olive Connection
Who would have guessed that something a delicious as olives could be so darn good for you? For years and years, research has consistently shown that olives are amazing for heart health. That's because the polyphenols found in olive oil are not only powerful free-radical scavengers, but they also contain potent antioxidant potential that also helps block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, which in turn reduces your risk of hardening of the arteries. Plus, olive oil has also been shown to reduce blood pressure.
2. Squalene? Your Skin's Secret Weapon
Italian beauty Sophia Loren once said that her beauty secret was that she used olive oil on her face. Little did she know, she was on to something. Buried deep within the humble olive lies a powerful, natural antioxidant known as squalene. Also found in all human tissues, the greatest concentration of squalene is in the skin. So it stands to reason that squalene has recently earned wide acclaim for its wonderful moisturizing benefits. Whether you use a squalene extract, pure extra virgin olive oil, or consume whole olives, your skin can feel soft, supple, and beautiful in no time, thanks to squalene.
3. You Mean There's Juice in Olives?
While olive oil seems to garner all of the attention, its lesser known relative (olive juice) has a few health benefits of its own. Until now, olive juice has been a mere byproduct of olive oil production. In fact, disposal of the juice has been costly for the industry. After all, 80 to 85 percent of all those olives is an awful lot of waste to dispose of. Meanwhile, all this time, suppliers have been throwing away a more concentrated source of the very polyphenols that are responsible for the health benefits of olive oil! The principal polyphenol, hydroxytyrosol, has been shown to have the highest free radical-scavenging activity ever reported for a natural antioxidant.
4. Every Part of the Olive is Beneficial
Even the olive leaf has amazing health benefits. One of the most impressive is its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, including E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus ("staph"), and Candida albicans, the fungus responsible for yeast infections. Plus, recent research has shown that it has promise as a treatment for hepatitis C.
5. All Good Things in Moderation
Ask anyone on the street, and they will likely tell you that olives and olive oil are good for you. However, anything eaten in excess can have an adverse effect. In the case of olives, that can translate to unwanted weight gain. While olives are made up primarily of healthy omega-3 essential fatty acids, they are a source of fat and calories. So, enjoy olives, but think of a handful rather than a jar full.
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