Apart from being super delicious, olives are nutritious and are rich in antioxidants, which help to fight inflammation and disease in the body.
5 Health Benefits of Olives
Are olives good for you?
Health benefits of olives
1. Reduces inflammation
Olives contain antioxidants, which have been associated with reducing one’s risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer and reducing inflammation in our bodies,” says Pike
2. Regulates cholesterol levels
Olives offer a variety of health benefits, particularly in the realm of heart health. “Oleic acid is a type of fatty acid found in olives and they have been shown to improve heart health by regulating cholesterol levels,” says Agyeman. “So, whether you have high cholesterol or are looking for another rock-star addition to your eating routine for heart health, olives are the way to go.”
3. Can help manage high blood pressure
Due to their high oleic acid and antioxidant polyphenol content, olives have also been found to be the ideal fat to help manage hypertension (high blood pressure).
4. May help prevent cancer
Epidemiological studies have found that the rates of certain cancers are lower in the Mediterranean than in the U.S. This can be attributed to the olive-oil-rich diets there. One study found that oleic acid, the main monounsaturated fatty acid of olive oil, is linked to suppressing the growth of breast cancer cells.
5. Supports skin health
Olives are a great source of vitamin E, which helps to support cell function, the immune system, and skin health. Vitamin E has been found to protect skin from ultraviolet radiation, therefore helping to defend it against skin cancer and premature aging.
"Olives are an unusual little fruit, which contains high amount of fat, many of which are key nutrients for women’s health".
Green olives versus black olives?
So olives are indeed healthy, but you’ve got a few more questions. Are black olives good for you? Are green olives good for you? “There are numerous different types of olives, and some nutritional variations are bound to exist,” says Pike. “However, most of the main nutrition components—monounsaturated fats, copper, vitamin E, calcium, vitamin A—remain consistent.”
References
- Potential of olive oil phenols as chemopreventive and therapeutic agents against cancer: a review of in vitro studies, Pubmed
- Oleic acid, the main monounsaturated fatty acid of olive oil, suppresses Her-2/neu (erbB-2) expression and synergistically enhances the growth inhibitory effects of trastuzumab (Herceptin) in breast cancer cells with Her-2/neu oncogene amplification, Pubmed
- Effects of Olive Oil on Blood Pressure: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Mechanistic Evidence, NCBI
Credits
Article: Glamour.com
Photography: Shutterstock.com