Oleic acid is a fatty acid. It is a lipid often found accompanied by other fatty acids, like stearic and folic acid. Oleic acid is a healthy component of a balanced everyday diet. One example of its healthful properties is that it can lower blood...
Although inflammation serves an important purpose, protecting you from viruses and bacteria and healing after injury, it can also be harmful if it continues for too long. Research shows that dietary factors, including the quantity and quality of...
Although dietary fat sometimes has a bad reputation for contributing to obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, it also performs many vital functions in your body. It provides a dense form of stored energy and is necessary for...
Black olives are a healthy addition to almost any diet, and just a few of these salty gems pack a flavorful punch. Sliced olives lend themselves to a variety of kitchen applications, providing color, flavor and nutrients to a number of savory...
Health-conscious individuals interested in consuming a more balanced diet that includes fewer saturated fats may wonder about the potential benefits of including more sunflower oil in their daily menus. As an excellent source of healthy...
Guacamole is a dip that originated in Mexico but is now served worldwide. Mashed avocados serve as the base for this dip. Additional ingredients are lemon or lime juice, diced tomatoes, onions, garlic and salt. It is typically served with tortilla...
The palm tree Elaeis guineensis is native to tropical West African riverbank forests and swamps. Palm oil is expressed from its outer fruit pulp, and palm kernel oil is expressed from its seed. Palm kernel oil contains a range of saturated fatty...
Kamut is a grain that is about 2 to 3 times larger than common wheat grains, with a substantially larger amount of nutrients. Originally used in ancient Egypt, this variety of wheat has made its way into cereals, breads, cookies and a variety of...
Monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs, are a type of unsaturated fat from plant oils. Oils that contain monounsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature but will turn solid when refrigerated. According to the American Heart Association,...
High blood pressure or hypertension is known as the "silent killer" because it often goes undetected until severe damage has been done to the heart and cardiovascular system. One of the protective benefits of olive oil is that it decreases many...
Extra virgin olive oil is beneficial to your health whether you use it in cooking or consume it raw, as in salad dressings. It contains vitamins A, D, E and K as well as antioxidants called polyphenols, which are powerful age-fighters and health...
Sunflower seeds grow in the center of sunflowers in clusters of 1,000 to 2,000 seeds. The seeds vary in appearance: black-and-white-striped seeds -- used for snacking -- are the most common kind; while black seeds are used for sunflower oil, which...
Sunflower oil and rice bran oil are two types of vegetable oil, which is a family of edible, plant-based cooking oils. Sunflower oil is one of the more commonly used cooking oils in North America, along with other vegetable oils such as canola,...
Dark chocolate is such a healthy food that the University of Michigan Health System placed it in its Healing Foods Pyramid. The cocoa in dark chocolate includes antioxidants that reduce bad cholesterol, a monounsaturated fat that reduces total...
Olive oil has been used in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea for thousands of years. Made by grinding whole olives, olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid. Monounsaturated fatty acids are linked to a...
Coconut oil is made up of a mixture of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. The oil contains close to 12 g of saturated fat per tablespoon. This makes up nearly 60 percent of your daily recommended saturated fat intake. The...
The myelin sheath plays an important role in your nervous system. It covers your nerves, helping to transmit signals from neuron to neuron. When the myelin sheath becomes damaged, you can have problems with several different functions. For...
Peanuts are the most widely consumed nut in the U.S. and are used as a main source of nutritional benefits in developing countries. According to the "International Journal of Obesity" in 2006, peanut products possess strong satiety properties as...
Olive oil, a flavorful oil used in cooking and for dipping bread, tastes good and features many health benefits. Made from crushed and pressed olives, this Mediterranean staple can be used in a variety of ways. The oil comes in a variety of grades...
High in calories and in fats, it may seem difficult to fathom that something that tastes so delightful could be good for you. But it is true; chocolate, especially dark chocolate, does have its health benefits. Chocolate is a plant-based product,...
Safflower oil, the oil pressed from the seeds of the thistle-like plant Carthamus tinctorius, can be used as a cooking oil or as a component of salad dressing. Safflower oil is similar in nutritional content to sunflower oil, because the two...
The fat in pure chocolate comes from cocoa butter, which is made up of three acids: stearic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid. Oleic acid provides a full 1/3 of the fat. It's a monounsaturated fat, meaning it's healthy for your heart. Stearic...
Not all fats are created equal. Saturated fats are known to increase the body's level of cholesterol and contribute to heart disease. Monounsaturated fats, however, have numerous health benefits, from fighting inflammation in the body to...
Asthma is a serious respiratory condition involving constriction of the airways that allow air to flow into the lungs. In severe cases, bronchospasm (tightening of the airways) can cause extreme shortness of breath and may result in loss of...
To effectively safeguard your heart from disease and illness, you have to eat a balanced diet that is a low in fat. The main cause of high cholesterol, coronary and heart disease is saturated fat, according to MayoClinic.com. Eating fruits that...
Harvested in South American rainforests, the acai berry is a popular fruit which gained attention as Dr. Nicolas Perricone announced it to be the number one "superfood" on the planet when he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Acai berry is...
The Moringa oleifera tree is grown in many parts of the world and can tolerate hostile conditions and poor soils. It is a very useful tree and practically every part of it can be used as food or in traditional medicine. Moringa seeds are eaten...
Olive oil has been a staple in diets of people of the Mediterranean region for more than 3,000 years. According to Peggy Knickerbocker and Laurie Smith, authors of Olive Oil: From Tree to Table, Phoenician and Greek emigrants used olive oil as...
High blood pressure effects an estimated 65 million American adults and is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Due to the potentially devastating effects of this condition,...
