Olive oil is generally used in cooking for frying meat and vegetable food items or as a salad dressing. This olive oil is also found in some cosmetics, medicine products, soaps, and fuels for traditional oil lamps.
Olive oil is mainly produced in large amounts in Spain. Around the world, more than 50 percent of olive oil is produced in Spain. Followed by Spain, some other countries also produced olive oil in large numbers: Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, and Morocco.
Olive Oil Nutrition
Olive oil is loaded with a rich amount of monounsaturated fats and contains a medium amount of vitamins E and K. Extra virgin olive oil also contains antioxidants, some of which have powerful health benefits.
Extraction of Olive Oil
Olive oil is extracted from the ripening fruit and not from the seed. There are some procedures and processes for olive oil extraction. They are
- Harvest
- Transport
- Milling
- Decant and/or Filter
- Bottle and Label
- Transport
Types of Olive Oil
Types or grades of olive oil are classified according to the fruit’s quality and the extraction process. There are commonly five types of olive oil available on the market. They are
- Extra-Virgin Types of Olive Oil
- Virgin-Olive Oil
- Refined Olive Oil
- Pure Olive Oil
- Olive Pomace Oil
Extra-virgin olive
One of the best grades of oil is extra virgin olive oil. This olive oil has a lower acidity content compared with other types, and it is also very simple because of its natural flavor and aroma. This grade of olive oil can allow people to drink extra virgin olive oil directly without adding liquid or any other ingredient to it because the health benefits of olive oil are extensive.
Virgin-Olive Oil
The virgin type of olive oil is an unrefined form, and it is mainly suitable for low-heat cooking purposes. This-grade olive oil has a slightly high acidity content, between 1 and 4 percent. This olive oil has a milder taste compared with extra-virgin olive.
Refined Olive Oil
This grade of olive oil is extracted from black and ripe olive fruits. This grade of olive oil is always considered low quality, so it is only used for cooking purposes, especially those that involve high temperatures. Refined olive oil has the same fat and calories as other types.
Pure Olive Oil
The name of this grade of olive oil clearly explains that it is pure, but this grade of olive oil is not at all 100 percent pure. In fact, it is just a blend of extra virgin olive oil with a refined form of olive oil. The blending method of olive oil will give a rich amount of vitamin E and better flavor.
Pomace Olive Oil
The lowest-grade olive oil is pomace olive oil. This grade of olive oil is extracted from the residue that remains after the fruit is pressed. Since it is extracted merely from residue, just adding virgin oil will help improve the quality. Due to this issue, this grade of olive oil has a low price in the market and is suitable only for high-heat cooking purposes.
Health Benefits of Olive Oil
- Improve bone health : Several people lose their bone health due to their working lifestyle and food diet. Most of the time, women face bone density problems. Olive oil encourages bone density and keeps the bones stronger. According to the health study in the year 2018, several women’s bone density has improved very well, and they are also getting stronger bones because they regularly take olive oil. Olive oil contains anti-inflammatory polyphenols that help to avoid bone breakdown and encourage bone formation.
- Good for hair, skin, and nails: Nowadays, olive oil is commonly used as an ingredient in many soaps, body washes, and lotions. Olive oil is really useful for hair health, skin health, and nail health.
- Good for Erectile Dysfunction: Having adequate levels of Olive oil in food enriched to boost erectile dysfunction is important. Additionally, massaging the outer walls of sexual organ with the oil is associated with improved results w.r.t erectile dysfunction in men. Using the therapy with medications like Cenforce & Caverta is very beneficial in improving the condition.
- Hair treatment: Take one or two tablespoons of olive oil to treat split ends or gently massage into the scalp to relieve dryness. Afterward, rinse thoroughly with the help of shampoo.
- Moisturizer: Always keeping the skin hydrated is very important for skin health, but skin health is totally damaged due to hot sunlight and dehydration. So apply olive oil to the skin as a regular lotion before use. People may need to blot more olive oil with a towel.
- Cuticle conditioner: Just take a drop of olive oil and simply massage a gentle massage into each fingertip to treat chapped, cracked, or dry cuticles.
Always try to apply high-quality extra virgin olive oil to the skin surface layers. It is better to avoid low-grade olive oil; it may cause some harmful reactions to the skin layers.
Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
According to the health survey, every day, a person who is taking the highest amount of olive oil—up to 1.5 tablespoons (20 ml)—has the ability to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Good for Weight Loss: Millions of people are facing a heavy body weight problem, so they are trying to lose their body weight in several ways. Olive oil is supportive of losing body weight because it has zero fat and boosts metabolism activity to lose body weight.
Boosting cardiovascular health: Olive oil boosts cardiovascular health because it contains no fat, improves cholesterol levels, and also reduces blood pressure in the body. These things help to improve heart health, avoid the chance of stroke, and reduce the chance of an immediate heart attack. People can take 4 to 5 tablespoons of olive oil in their daily lives to keep their bodies healthy. Additionally certain health exercises also boost cardiovascular health.
