There’s nothing that tastes quite like a fresh gourmet olive. But these days, tasting delicious isn’t always enough for food lovers. Trends in health and nutrition have highlighted those foods that offer great flavor without putting too much added stress on the body. We are proud of the fact that olives fall into this increasingly desirable category.
Some are confused about what they have been told in the past, that olives are a high fat food. But these days, people are looking beyond simple nutritional facts. Instead of focusing on total fat content, nutritionists are looking at what type of fat a food contains. Olives happen to contain mostly monounsaturated fat in the form of oleic acid, which is actually shown to reduce bad cholesterol, an important factor in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, monounsaturated fats have been shown to help manage blood pressure levels. See, not all fat is bad.
More important than the fat content of olives, however, are the phytonutrients they contain. These chemicals protect plants from various biological threats, and in turn protect us when we consume them. They provide benefits all over the human body.
Two important benefits of phytonutrients should be noted. First, they serve as antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress that damages cells. Some antioxidants are found exclusively in olives, and their levels vary at different stages of the olive maturation process. Second, phytonutrients provide anti-inflammatory benefits, acting as natural anti-histamines, and having other effects as well.
By preventing oxidative stress and reducing inflammation, the phytonutrients in olives can help to ward off cancer, as those two conditions can be a contributing factor to its development. Antioxidant phytonutrients also help to protect DNA.
You can see why dieters and nutritionists all over have given the olive the lauded designation of “superfood”. As part of a healthy diet, fresh gourmet green and black olives can lead to a healthier, happier life without sacrificing rich, delicious flavor.
By Anthony Williams
Categorised in: Uncategorized
This post was written by gourmetadmin