Health Benefits of Olives
By Madhusudhan Tammisetti
Olives can be found in the Mediterranean areas and are among the world's healthiest fruits. They're a key component of the diet in Mediterranean region, which has been linked to better health and happiness. Olives may seem small, yet their significance cannot be overstated.
They may have emerged in Northern Africa, after which they're mainly grown in the Mediterranean areas of Greece and Italy. They're still an important component of the local diet, with people in the Mediterranean using 300 percent more olive oil compared to those in the Western hemisphere.
Olives grow on Olea europaea trees and are part of the stone fruit family, which includes mangoes and other fruits. When unripe, they're green, and when fully ripe, they're black.
Some of the olives health benefits include protecting you from getting cancer, support healthy blood vessels, promoting gut health, relieving pain, reducing the chances of developing diabetes, prevent infections, promotes weight loss, maintaining brain function, lowering the chances of getting osteoporosis, promoting eye health, and reducing seasonal allergies.
Lowers the Chances of Developing Diabetes
Olives have low glycemic index, making them ideal for diabetics or those at risk of developing diabetes. Olives are high in monounsaturated fats that may slow down the absorption of blood glucose. But that isn't all it does to assist diabetes. After diagnosis, consuming them play a role in helping diabetics. In diabetics, oxidative damage may be widespread, hastening the degeneration of organs such as the eyes and kidneys. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the olive oil help ensure that diabetic complications don't worsen the disease.
Help in Getting Relief from Seasonal Allergies
Olives have anti-inflammatory properties, which also act as a mediating factor in allergy suppression. Certain stimuli cause histamine to be released, which causes an allergic response. Olives are also anti-histamines, which reduce lung inflammation and mucus production, making breathing easier. Because the olive is mildly allergic, it's good to eat olives before the start of the allergy season to minimize adverse affects when you come into contact with allergens.
Support Healthy Blood Vessels
The atherosclerotic plaques formation on the walls of the blood vessels is one of the main risk factors for a cardiovascular disease. The development of this plaque was aided by the LDL cholesterol's accelerated oxidation, which olives and olive oil may help prevent. Because phenolic chemicals are present in olives, LDL cholesterol's oxidation is substantially decreased, keeping blood vessels clean and free for blood flow. These chemicals also help to keep blood vessels flexible by avoiding endothelium hardening.
Promotes Eye Health
Olives contain a good quantity of Vitamin A and its antioxidant family, which have been shown to be helpful to eye health. The carotenoid antioxidants help prevent age-related macular degeneration, prevent cataract development, and keep the optic nerve healthy.
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