Americans have traditionally viewed foods containing high amounts of fat to be “fattening” foods.  Part of that can be attributed to the negative connotation of the word fat.  The first thought people have when hearing the word fat is someone who is overweight.  If food manufacturers replaced, “fats” with, “lipids” on nutritional facts labels we would likely have a different view on fats.  When looking at nutritional facts labels, the first thing people look at is the calorie count and then the amount of fat it contains.  Foods high in fat are ditched by weight conscious people because of that correlation with the idea they will, “make you fat”.

Fat is a staple in the Mediterranean diet, which over the years has proved to be one of the healthiest ways to eat. Good fats contain mostly monounsaturated fat and a high count in Omega-3 fatty acids.  These fats have proven to give brainpower, fight disease and assist in aesthetics.  They are a very important part of the diet and not to be ignored by anyone.  One of the best foods that is high in fat is extra virgin olive oil. Consuming extra virgin olive oil on a regular basis should be a theme in everyone’s life and may be a key player in your health.

Extra virgin olive oil is different than regular olive oil because it is left at its rawest form.  “Extra virgin” means that it is unheated and unfiltered, keeping the health benefits intact. Regular olive oil is heated and filtered killing many of the antioxidants that are present.  Paying attention to which olive oil you are selecting may be the difference in it being healthy or unhealthy.

Why So Good?

The high fat content in olive oil can actually be a key ingredient in preventing belly fat. A hormone called adiponectin, which is secreted by fat cells, regulates sugar and fat metabolism. This reaction helps the cells on blood vessels’ walls from becoming inflamed.  The end result is less insulin resistance (a good thing) and lower blood sugar levels.

High fat foods are considered to be terrible for the heart and a major cause of heart disease.  The type of fat in olive oil is actually one of the most beneficial foods for the heart.  The monounsaturated fats in olive oil can help cholesterol from becoming oxidized, which is the only way for cholesterol to stick to the artery walls. Oleic acid is present in cholesterol of a person who eats high amounts of olive oil.  This oleic acid protects LDL from free radicals.  Free radicals are responsible for damage in the artery walls and oxidizing cholesterol.  If your cholesterol levels are a concern, extra virgin olive oil can be one of the best regulators.

The list of health benefits found from a diet high in olive oil goes on and on.  Anti-inflammatory substances are produced from the monounsaturated fats that help fight inflammation in organs and bones. Studies have also shown a reduced risk of colon cancer and breast cancer from consumption of olive oil as well.  The health benefits from extra virgin olive oil are undeniable and can help prevent or reduce many health issues that you may have.  If you aren’t worried too much about your health, the oil has been linked with better skin, hair and nails.  Extra virgin olive oil is no question a super food and should definitely be a reoccurring theme in your diet.

How To Eat?

The great thing about extra virgin olive oil is its versatility in foods.  You can use it with just about anything and it is a great butter substitute.  The only thing that you should be concerned with is the carcinogenic effect that comes from cooking the oil on too high of temperatures. It is safe to cook with olive oil as long as it is not smoking.  The smoke is a teller that the good properties of olive oil are being damaged and the smoke is actually a carcinogen.  Aside from that it is safe to cook with olive oil and very safe to eat it at room temperature.  Salads, stir-fry, meats, rice and a list of other foods go great with olive oil.  There really is no excuse to have a diet lacking in extra virgin olive oil.  Look for the organic kind if available and don’t get too big of a bottle so that it doesn’t spoil.