Green olives benefits have a lot. Olives are very high in vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants. Studies show that they are good for the heart and may protect against osteoporosis and cancer. The healthy fats in olives are extracted to produce olive oil, one of the key components of the incredibly healthy Mediterranean diet. Here we are going to discuss the benefits of green olives.
Green Olives Benefits
May lower risk of heart disease
Mediterranean diets are heavy in olives. Studies show that women who eat a Mediterranean diet have a significantly reduced risk of developing heart disease. One explanation may be that olives are low in cholesterol, which has been linked to heart disease. Another potential explanation is that olives are a good source of monounsaturated fats, which the American Heart Association has shown can improve heart health.
Reduce chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation plays a key role in many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Olives may help reduce chronic inflammation, relieving symptoms of these and other conditions. Olives are packed with antioxidants, which have been shown to help with chronic inflammation. Two kinds of antioxidants found in olives, hydroxytyrosol, and oleanolic acid, have been effective in reducing inflammation in animal test subjects. Studies have shown oleanolic acid’s health benefits in animals, not just in reducing inflammation, but also in promoting liver health and regulating fat levels in their blood.
Rich in antioxidants
Olives are rich in plant compounds called polyphenols which have effective antioxidant properties. The beneficial effects of these compounds include reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer.
Are anti-inflammatory
One of the polyphenols in olives is called oleocanthal. This compound appears to share the same pharmacological activity as ibuprofen and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. Interestingly, this useful property has been associated with positive changes in those with rheumatoid arthritis.
May support bone health
Animal studies suggest the plant compounds in olives help prevent bone loss, although these findings look positive human evidence remains wanting. That said, those that follow a Mediterranean diet do appear to have a lower incidence of fracture.
Olives benefit sexually
Olive oil can also help dramatically increase testosterone levels, which reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction, which is the inability to get and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.
Benefits of Olives for Skin
It removes sunscreen traces
Bear in mind that along with daily sun protection, cleansing your skin must be another of the essential steps in your skincare routine. If we had to keep our routine at a minimum, we should at least have these two steps. For this reason, the best thing to do when cleansing our face is to avoid aggressive surfactants that end up increasing the dryness and sensitivity of our skin in the long term, using more effective ingredients instead.
You can indeed use some cleansing soaps or gels with hydrating agents in their composition. But to remove traces of sunscreen and makeup (for those who wear it), the most effective way is using balms or oils that will emulsify with these products left on the skin and help completely remove them. And that’s where olive oil (especially if it’s an extra virgin) comes in.
Olive oil can be used on reusable pads or even directly on your skin with no risk at all. If you massage it into the skin with gentle circular motions, you will see it emulsifies with makeup and/or sunscreen traces left in your face, breaking down these products.
Next, to properly remove all of this from the skin you should use a washcloth damped with warm water. Once you have removed it, you can proceed with a non-stripping second cleanser to assure your face is completely bare and ready to apply the following steps in your skincare routine, in which olive oil can also be used.
It protects and hydrates even the most sensitive skin
Extra virgin olive oil has exceptional moisturizing and nourishing properties to hydrate the skin of both face and body. Its high content in vitamin A and E but also D and K makes it an ideal product to protect (especially in colder seasons) and nourish even the most sensitive skins.
Extra virgin olive oil can be used as a night moisturizer following other treatments or water-based serums that may already exist in your routine. To use it as the last moisturizing step, you can apply three drops of oil on your palm, warm it and very gently massage it on your face. Another way to use it is by mixing it with your existing night cream. Be aware that if you have very oily skin, you might want to avoid its use.
It helps to repair damaged skin tissues
Skin is our largest organ, an organ that protects us both from external factors and sun damage. For this reason, you need to take good care of it and always protect it. And due to the same beneficial properties that we have mentioned before, extra virgin olive oil can also help you repair damaged skin tissues.
On the one hand, thanks to the regenerative and healing properties provided by its vitamins, the use of a few drops of this product is ideal for repairing areas where we find dry and cracked skin, such as elbows and knees, or even on superficial wounds.
In addition, its healing properties together with its ability to regulate the appearance of certain bacteria on the face, also make it a special ally against acne. The vitamin D contained in this oil can also help you if you suffer from other skin conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis since it calms down inflammation.
It revitalizes and strengthens the skin’s tonicity
Thanks to the high concentration of vitamins and minerals and its content in natural fatty acids, extra virgin olive oil can also help you revitalize your face, giving it softness, shine, and tonicity. On the one hand, the vitamins contained in this product, especially vitamins A and E, help to strengthen the firmness of the epidermis, even stimulating the production of collagen. On the other hand, its high concentration of oleic acid also helps stimulate skin cell regeneration, giving it elasticity and natural shine.
It is an antioxidant ally to combat aging
As time passes by we age, and although aging is something natural, there are external factors such as harmful sun rays, pollution, stress, and other unhealthy habits we might have that accelerate this process. Again, due to its high content in polyphenols, extra virgin olive oil has antioxidant and antiaging properties that help act against the free radical formation, which is directly responsible for the aging of cells. For this same reason, this oil is a great ally against the harmful effects of the sun, helping to lighten spots or slow down the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (especially those around the eyes) that give a more aged appearance to the face.
1 Green Olives Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 10
- Fat: 1 gram
- Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
- Sodium: 110 milligrams
- Carbohydrates: 1 gram
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams
- Protein: 0 grams
How many green olives should I eat a day?
To keep your saturated fat intake within the recommended guidelines, it’s best to limit your intake to 2–3 ounces (56–84 grams) — about 16–24 small- to medium-sized olives — per day. Though olives may aid weight loss, they’re high in salt and fat — and eating too many of them may offset your weight loss success.
Are green olives good for cholesterol?
One explanation may be that olives are low in cholesterol, which has been linked to heart disease. Another potential explanation is that olives are a good source of monounsaturated fats, which the American Heart Association has shown can improve heart health.
