What is olive oil used for

No kidding here! Have your favorite Italian pasta or a salad drizzled with olive oil and watch yourself go from flab to fab. A study published in the Harvard School of Public Health had supported the efficacy of olive oil in aiding weight loss.

The weight loss that occurred due to two different types of diets a moderate-fat Mediterranean diet that includes olive oil, and a lowfat diet were compared. By the end of the study, only 20 percent of the volunteers in the low-fat group were still following the diet. Olive oil contains minimum levels of saturated and polyunsaturated fats. This property gives it the ability to control blood cholesterol levels in the body. Research conducted at the University of Minnesota has shown that while Greek, Cretan, and other Mediterranean population ate almost as much dietary fat as Americans, they had significantly lower rates of heart disease.

Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain found in a study that an extra virgin olive oil rich diet lowered the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body. It is also linked to an increase in HDL good cholesterol in the human body. Olive oil benefits the gastrointestinal tract and colon The consistency and texture of olive oil help in stimulating your digestive system, making food move smoothly through the colon.

When you take this oil on a regular basis, it helps in completely preventing constipation. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats This helps in increasing mobility so that food can move through the colon without any problem.

It also helps in speeding up bowel evacuation and prevents constipation. This oil is rich in vitamins E and K, iron, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids and antioxidants. These nutrients improve your overall health, including the digestive tract, and help prevent constipation as well.

Have one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil twice a day. Take the first tablespoon in the morning on an empty stomach and the second one an hour before you go to bed. If you forget to take it while your stomach is empty, wait a few hours after you have eaten.

Repeat this every day until constipation is relieved. If you do not like the taste of raw olive oil, you can combine it with a fibrous fruit like apple or orange. First, take a tablespoon of the oil in the morning and then eat the fruit. If it does not help, take another tablespoon in the evening with veggies such as broccoli that are rich in fiber.

Do this on a regular basis until you obtain relief. Add one teaspoon of olive oil to a glass of orange juice and drink it every morning on an empty stomach. It will help in lubricating your system all day long and keeps you healthy. You can also try olive oil with a cup of coffee. Mixing a tablespoon of olive oil and a teaspoon of lemon juice is also an effective way to treat constipation naturally. Drink this mixture once every day.

You can also take one teaspoon of olive oil with a wedge of lemon in the evening to lubricate your system and to keep your colon from drying while you sleep. This is a great remedy for severe constipation. All you need to do is add one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to a cup of warm milk. Mix it well and make sure your stomach is empty when you drink it. Do this regularly to get rid of constipation. Olive oil consumption can also help dissolve kidney stones Using olive oil to clean ear wax is a good idea To prevent the onset of cerumen impaction, experts recommend using olive oil to remove wax from your ears.

In most cases, when you try to clean impacted earwax, the hardened wax chunks move further back into the ear canal. This is where olive oil comes in handy. It helps to soften the cerumen, making it easier for you to remove earwax. Once it has been sufficiently softened, the wax gets broken down into smaller pieces, and often moves to the outer edge of your air canal, where it can be safely and thoroughly cleaned with a soft cloth or tissue.

You can repeat this method several times a week as required. While a few people say that it should be done two to four times a day, others recommend the treatment only a few times a week. It takes some patience with this remedy as it can take up to two weeks for even minor cases to clear up completely.

You may not know this but the daily consumption of extra virgin oil can help prevent strokes in the elderly We all know that strokes occur due to blood clot in the blood vessels connecting to the brain, which can even lead to brain damage and, eventually, death.

Olive oil helps in diluting these clots, ensuring proper blood flow to the brain. A proper massage with olive oil enhances blood circulation to all parts of the body, including the sex organs. The presence of a compound called oleocanthal in olive oil makes it an anti-inflammatory agent that can cure any type of disease, be it topical or chronic Not mentioning the proper process of selection after enumerating the numerous benefits is like luring a kid with a candy without giving him one.

Trivia: Thankfully, olive oil has a longer shelf life when compared to normal cooking oils. Some varieties can even last three years. In another review in , participants, those who consumed olive oil were at a much lower risk of stroke than those who did not Summary Several large studies demonstrate that people who consume olive oil have a much lower risk of stroke, the second biggest killer in developed countries. Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the world Observational studies conducted a few decades ago showed that heart disease is less common in Mediterranean countries.

This led to extensive research on the Mediterranean diet , which has now been shown to significantly reduce heart disease risk 17 , Extra virgin olive oil is one of the key ingredients in this diet, protecting against heart disease in several ways Interestingly, it has also been shown to lower blood pressure, which is one of the strongest risk factors for heart disease and premature death. Dozens — if not hundreds — of studies indicate that extra virgin olive oil has powerful benefits for your heart.

If you have heart disease, a family history of heart disease or any other major risk factor, you may want to include plenty of extra virgin olive oil in your diet. Summary Extra virgin olive oil has numerous benefits for heart health. Eating excessive amounts of fat causes weight gain.

However, numerous studies have linked the Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, with favorable effects on body weight 29 , 30 , In a month study in over 7, Spanish college students, consuming a lot of olive oil was not linked to increased weight Additionally, one three-year study in participants found that a diet rich in olive oil was linked to increased levels of antioxidants in the blood, as well as weight loss Summary Consuming olive oil does not appear to increase the likelihood of weight gain.

Moderate intake may even aid weight loss. One study in mice showed that a substance in olive oil can help remove these plaques Additionally, a human study indicated that a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil benefitted brain function Several studies have linked olive oil to beneficial effects on blood sugar and insulin sensitivity 36 , A randomized clinical trial in healthy people recently confirmed the protective effects of olive oil Summary Both observational studies and clinical trials suggest that olive oil, combined with a Mediterranean diet, can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.

People in Mediterranean countries have a lower risk of some cancers, and many researchers believe that olive oil may be the reason The antioxidants in olive oil can reduce oxidative damage due to free radicals, which is believed to be a leading driver of cancer 40 , Many test-tube studies demonstrate that compounds in olive oil can fight cancer cells 42 , Summary Preliminary evidence suggests that olive oil may reduce cancer risk, but further studies are needed.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by deformed and painful joints. Though the exact cause is not well understood, it involves your immune system attacking normal cells by mistake.

Olive oil supplements appear to improve inflammatory markers and reduce oxidative stress in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis 44 , It also tames flyaways. Give your hair some overall TLC. Nourish, condition and detangle your hair with a DIY olive oil hair mask.

Soothe stretch marks. When you have stretch marks , you'll likely try anything to help get rid of them. Apply a generous amount of oil to affected areas every morning. Use it as a shaving cream substitute. If you're out of shaving cream, lather legs with some olive oil. This natural lubricant will offer a close shave, preventing razor bumps and burn. Plus, it will moisturize your skin. Repair cracked heels.

Give rough heels some attention. Exfoliate with a pumice stone, then apply olive oil to feet. Lock in the moisturizing treatment by wearing cotton socks while you sleep. Loosen earwax. Put some drops of olive oil in ears for a few consecutive nights.

It will help reduce earwax buildup. Get rid of chewing gum in hair. Put down the scissors! Apply some oil to the gum and hair around it. Leave on for five to 10 minutes; remove the gum. Remove paint from hair. You aren't stuck with the color of your son's bedroom in your hair forever! Dab some oil onto a cotton ball. Rub it gently into your mane to get rid of the paint. Alleviate cradle cap. Apply some oil to baby's cradle cap twice a day. Let it sit for a few minutes. Brush off the flakes.