In my research of understanding my husband’s high cholesterol I found that olive oil and olives were actually beneficial for lowering his cholesterol. Seems like it would be the opposite, but good fats are important to our health.
Today, my friend and colleague Mike “the miracle” Welch will be teaching us about olives. Mike is a pretty amazing man who has overcome stage IV bladder cancer and now teaches others about healthy lifestyles. He is an excellent resource for many. Make sure you check out his website and keep it in your records. http://www.mikethemiraclewelch.com
For your Total Wellness,
Dr. Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom
***************************************
The other day when I was in the local grocery store, I overheard a number of people talking about olive oil. I got to thinking with all the negative comments that were being made about this particular item, people were really concentrating on the word “oil” and that turns the thoughts of fats that are bad for an individual’s health.
The fats that are considered bad for the diet, however, tend to be saturated fats. The fats in olive oil are monounsaturated fatty acids, and these are considered healthy dietary fats. In addition, unlike other cooking oils, olive oil production doesn’t require a chemical process. Instead, the olives are pressed; the first pressing produces extra-virgin olive oil.
“Olive oil, especially extra-virgin olive oil, is a smart choice for people who enjoy a delicious oil with potential health benefits,” says Dr. D. Myers and “studies indicate that moderate consumption of olive oil may lower a person’s blood pressure and total cholesterol numbers which is especially beneficial for heart health.”
When Dr. Myers first began studying the benefits of olives and olive oil through Harvard Medical School, he didn’t realize how beneficial this particular item was. He says, “Initially, I was surprised to learn that olive products can be so healthy, in fact studies have even linked olive oil to possibly lowering the risk of some cancers.”
Here’s what’s in olives that make them so good:
Olives are rich in iron, vitamin E (which is a fat soluble antioxidant that neutralizes damaging free radicals) and copper. In addition, they are an excellent source of fiber and are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
Olives also add flavor to all kinds of food and can be used in almost any meal from veggie omelets at breakfast to sandwiches at lunch and fish dishes at dinner.
There are black and green olives. Green olives are the unripe olives and the black are fully ripe. All olives found in grocery stores are either oxidized, pickled or cured. They may come in water, oil, brine or dry. According to Musco Family Olives Company, olives straight from the tree are too bitter to eat without some kind of curing.
For good and healthy olive recipes, please check out Whole Foods’ website.
If you are shopping in your grocery stores for olive oils, you may notice words like “Premium extra virgin”, “Extra virgin” and “Mild or Light Virgin”. The mild and light virgin oils have undergone extreme processes to make it suitable for cooking. However most of the natural aroma and goodness may be filtrated.
Top quality olive oils like the Premium extra and extra virgin are natural, full of aroma and are suitable uncooked. In Napa Valley California, you can go for wine tasting tours if you are a wine enthusiast but did you know that olive oil tasting tours are also available?
You get different types and grades of olive oils, dip in bread or sip the oils without feeling tipsy and you can still drive after hours of tasting.
Spice up your daily meals by adding olive oil and olives into your diet. Leave us a comment below.
Mike the miracle Welch, cancer survivor, health coach, author of Cancer: How I Beat It, speaker and Harley Davidson enthusiast. For more information on how to talk to your medical doctor about natural remedies, please download this free audio by Mike.
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.
