Olive Oil

Olive Oil is obtained from the fruit Olive (Olea Europaea) which is a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. As a matter of fact, Olive Oil is the only oil that can be consumed immediately after it has been obtained from the fruit. The most common uses of the Olive Oil are in cooking, medicines, cosmetics and as a fuel in traditional oil lamps.

Greece has the heaviest per capita consumption of Olive Oil in the world at 25 Liters per year. This is followed by Spain and Italy at 14 Liters per year. The consumption is North America is far less at 0.7 Liters.

Extraction of Olive Oil

The traditional way to make Olive Oil is by grinding the olives. The unripe olives are green in color and produce bitter oil while over ripened olives produce rancid oil and hence care has to be taken that the olives are just ripe when the process begins. To begin the process, the olives are ground into a paste using large millstones. The paste stays under the millstone for about 45 minutes and the oil collected during this process is termed as Virgin oil. Once the grinding process is complete, the olive paste is spread on fiber disks which are stacked on top of each other and then placed inside a press. Pressure is applied on the press and the olive oil produced is of the lower grade quality.

Types of Olive Oil

Depending on how the Olive fruit is processed, the different types of olive oils available are:

• Extra Virgin: This is considered to be the best type of olive oil which is least processed comprises the oil that is obtained from the first pressing of the olives a day or two after the olive is harvested. The taste of the oil is very sharp.
• Virgin: This oil is obtained from the second pressing of the olive.
• Pure: Olive oil of this kind undergoes some form of processing like filtering and refining.
• Extra Light: This type of oil undergoes a considerable amount of processing and it retains a mild olive flavor.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

When compared to other oils, Olive Oil is one of the most beneficial oils. The main reason for this is attributed to the fact that the olive oil has a high content of mono-unsaturated fatty acids along with a high content of anti-oxidative substances. As compared to Olive Oil no other naturally produced oil has such a large amount of mono-unsaturated namely oleic acid. Research has also shown that olive oil has provides protection against heart diseases as it helps lower the LDL that is bad cholesterol and increases HDL that is good cholesterol.

Olive Oil is also well tolerated by the stomach. It has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. It also enhances the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones more naturally when compared to prescription drugs. It also helps in reducing the possibility of gallstone formation. Research is also on to evaluate the effects of Olive Oil in treatment of colon cancer.

Uses of Olive Oil

The health benefits of Olive Oil have already been listed above and it should be a regular part of your diet. Here are some other uses of Olive Oil:

• Olive Oil serves as a safe and natural lubricant and can be used as an aftershave.
• On humid days, olive oil can be applied on the hair to tame down the frizz.
• A teaspoon of Olive Oil should be fed to the cat everyday. It will prevent hairballs and will also provide a shiny coat.
• When mixed with beeswax in a 1:1 ratio, olive oil can be used as an excellent lip balm and you get rid of chapped lips forever.
• If you or any of your family members suffer from snoring, then ingesting a teaspoon of Olive Oil before sleeping will help lubricate the throat muscles and stop snoring.

Olive oil has its benefits but remember that excess of anything is not good for health. If you have any questions then do contact a healthcare provider or a nutritionist who will be able to guide you better. It is always better to be safe than sorry.