Benefits of virgin olive oil

The benefits of virgin olive oil The benefits of olive oil are many and varied, as it is the best oil for health, and the ideal anti-aging agent. What are the benefits of extra virgin olive oil specifically?

Virgin olive oil is the one that is produced by the cold pressing method, which is the best quality. In this pressing process, the oil is extracted at temperatures below 38 degrees Celsius, without adding chemicals.

The amount of oil extracted in this way is less, which makes its price more expensive than the oil extracted by the hot pressing process.

All you need to know about the benefits of virgin olive oil is here:
Benefits of extra virgin olive oil
The benefits and qualities of virgin olive oil make it one of the best oils available. We mention some of them as follows:

1. Rich in healthy fats
Most oils contain fats of all kinds, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fats. However, virgin olive oil contains the largest amount of monounsaturated fat, at 73%, known as oleic acid, and its most important characteristics are:

• More stable than other types of unsaturated fats.
• It does not cause a buildup of cholesterol.
• Favorites to cook.

2. Fight cholesterol and promote heart health
Monounsaturated fats reduce the level of bad cholesterol that causes cholesterol to deposit in the arteries, lower blood pressure and prevent heart disorders.

On the other hand, polyunsaturated oils - such as sunflower, corn and soy oils - oxidize easily in the presence of oxygen, which can lead to an increase in harmful cholesterol and its deposition in the arteries of the heart.

This may explain why the common Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

3. Rich in Vitamin E
Pure olive oil contains vitamin E, whose properties are believed by some to be similar to linoleic acid, and linolenic acid is found in the omega-3s in fish oil.

But we must remember that olive oil does not contain some important fatty acids that the body cannot manufacture on its own, and therefore it cannot be the only oil we use.

4. Prevention of aging
One of the benefits of olive oil is its natural use to prevent aging and treat some skin diseases that come naturally with age.

Read more about the benefits of olive oil for hair and skin

5. Other benefits
Olive oil is also useful in the following cases:

• Prevent constipation.
• Studies show that olive oil can eliminate the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
• There is evidence that olive oil reduces the risk of cancer.
• It is effective in treating seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, and eczema.
• Excellent when mixed with other oils for massaging dry skin as well as for exfoliating the body with salt.
• How to use extra virgin olive oil

Olive oil is ideal and great for use in various recipes, for example, in salads, hummus, and for stir-frying. But some rules must be known and observed in this regard:

• Olive oil is best because it is easy to digest, but heating it during cooking will affect its smell, taste and quality as well.
• If you have to heat the oil, do so quickly and for a short period of time, adding a small amount of water to prevent it from getting too hot.
• Despite its high polyunsaturated fat content, the low polyunsaturated fat content tends to deteriorate quickly, so it is recommended to purchase a small container of oil.
• Other oils are recommended to be kept in a cool place after opening the package, as they contain more polyunsaturated oils.

Types of extra virgin olive oil
The saying "you get what you pay for" is true here. Extra virgin oil is relatively expensive, but it is the best! There are several types of olive oil:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, with the highest flavour, quality and price, has a maximum acidity of up to 1%. It is produced by cold pressing process, free of chemicals and suitable for salad.
Fine Virgin Olive Oil, with a maximum pH of up to 1.5%. It is also a very good oil, suitable for cooking.
Current Virgin olive oil, with a maximum pH of up to 3%, is suitable for cooking, but a pH greater than 3% makes it unedible.
Extra virgin olive oil for frying
Experts have not yet agreed on what type of oil is best for frying, but it is not recommended to use olive oil, it heats up during cooking and may burn (at about 180 degrees), and its quality decreases since from that moment on the production of oxidants begins, so it can be used for low heat frying.

Frying and heating are harmful, even if frying in cold-pressed oil such as olive oil, and fried or heated food with protein, is difficult to digest and stays there for a very long time until it rots, which may lead to disturbances in the digestive system.

Therefore, when frying for a long time, it is preferable to use saturated oils, although they are unhealthy, but they do not oxidize. Examples include: coconut oil, butter, palm oil.

Ways to know how to mix virgin olive oil with another oil
You can find out via:

• Put it in the refrigerator for a day. If it becomes thicker, more solid and curdled, this is a sign that it is pure. If it remains liquid, this is a sign that it has been mixed with another oil.
• Olive oil that has an unpleasant odor is moldy oil or oil that has been mixed with other vegetable oil.
• Using extra virgin olive oil to prevent aging

Finally, we present to you an anti-aging formula that can be prepared at home using olive oil. This mixture is excellent for lightening pigmentation spots, and for dry skin:

1- Ingredients
These are the ingredients used:

½ cup vinegar.
1 cup fresh yogurt - contains lactic acid.
Cold pressed virgin olive oil.
2- How to use

Do the following steps:

• Mix vinegar and yogurt, and massage gently from head to toe (it is recommended to do this in the bathtub or in the shower).
• Leave the mixture for 5 to 15 minutes, then rinse and pat dry with a dry towel.
• Excess can be left in the refrigerator for up to two days.
• It is well known that Italian women apply a little olive oil after every bath to keep their skin hydrated

Health benefits of oils
It is usually believed that oils are an enemy of the human body and health, but this assumption is fundamentally wrong! The oils:

• It is a source for building cell membranes and sex hormones.
• A source of oil-soluble vitamins such as: E, A, D and K. These vitamins need oils because they dissolve in fats and not in the blood.
• The fats available in them provide the body with important fatty acids, which the body cannot produce on its own.
• Increases skin elasticity and regenerates skin tissue.
• There is no doubt that oils improve food, and the best type of oil is pure or extra-virgin olive oil.

2- Avoid refined olive oil
You should refrain from buying refined olive oil, as these oils are oils that have been oxidized and spoiled and then subjected to chemical processes, and these oils are not virgin oils.

Refined oil is subjected to heating at high temperatures to extract most of the oil and to remove the characteristic smell. Lecithin is extracted from it, which is important for removing cholesterol from blood vessels and for brain function, because the consumer prefers transparent and clear oil.

To remove the acid taste is mixed with caustic soda.