Olive oil is the foundation of the healthful Mediterranean diet. Hippocrates once called olive oil the great healer, and we here at Moonrise Grove agree! There are many possible health benefits to adding just a tablespoon of olive oil to your diet per day. 

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Some possible benefits:

 

• Lowering bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol

• Helping prevent heart disease

• Lowering blood pressure

• Reducing the risk of certain cancers

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• Helping prevent Alzheimer's

• Helping treat depression and anxiety

• Relieving rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

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• May help with IBD

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• Preventing liver damage

• Helping prevent cell and tissue damage

• Helping prevent insulin resistance

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• Slowing the aging process

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Olive oil, out of all other plant-based oils, has the highest percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA's), which lowers 'bad' LDL cholesterol and increases 'good' HDL cholesterol. It's also been shown to lower blood pressure and contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties known to reduce heart disease. These properties have also been shown to help reduce the risk of certain cancers. EVOO is the staple fat source for the Mediterranean diet, considered one of the healthiest diets, and a diet that is emphasized by the American Heart Association for preventing heart disease. Since EVOO has anti-inflammatory properties, evidence suggests that it can reduce the pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. 

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A rodent study conducted in 2013 suggests that EVOO may help protect the nervous system, which means it helps with treating and protecting from multiple mental diseases. Research has shown that EVOO can help prevent Alzheimer's, and helps treat both depression and anxiety!

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A 2019 review found that olive oil may help boost intestinal immunity and gut health by changing the microbes in the gut. This could be useful for people inflammatory bowel disease. It is important to note that the authors of this study said more human studies are needed to confirm these results. We believe these results could also be attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties that EVOO contains.

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In 2018, a study was done on the effects of EVOO on liver. Bentham Science found that the molecules in EVOO may help prevent and even reverse liver damage. The MUFA's in EVOO also appear to help prevent oxidative stress (call and tissue damage) and insulin resistance. 

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Plant polyphenols, including those found in EVOO, have properties that mimic the effects of caloric restriction on the body, specifically by affecting the activity of family of proteins that regulates cellular health. Caloric restriction in humans has shown many beneficial effects, like prolonging lifespan and reducing the risk of age-associated diseases, which mean that EVOO helps with those too! These polyphenols also stimulate the body's system of clearing out dead cells and creating new ones, which leads to prevention against aging, and age-related diseases

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Facts taken from multiple sources:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/is-extra-virgin-olive-oil-extra-healthy

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/well/eat/olive-oil-health-benefits.html

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266258

https://oliveoillovers.com/blogs/our-journal/health-benefits-of-olive-oil

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