Medical Health Benefits of Olive Oil

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By Constance Lang
eHow Contributing Writer

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Olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, contains nutrients that are easier to digest than other monounsaturated fats. Because of the ease of absorption of olive oil's vitamins and minerals and its numerous antioxidants, olive oil provides many health benefits. When choosing an olive oil for health benefits, you'll want to choose extra virgin olive oil as it provides the most vitamins and nutrients of all the available varieties of olive oil.

Protection against Heart Disease

Olive oil lowers LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol) while raising HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol help prevent heart disease.

Assists with Diabetes

Olive oil helps control blood sugar levels and thus helps your body maintain healthy sugar levels if you suffer from or are at risk of diabetes.

Helps with Asthma and Arthritis

Olive oil's monounsaturated fats are utilized by your body to produce anti-inflammatory agents that can assist in decreasing the severity of asthma and arthritis.

Cancer Fighting Abilities

Olive oil has antioxidants that help fight cancer cells and in some cases, when combined with other therapies, have destroyed cancer cells.

Anti-Aging Abilities

Olive oil contains both vitamins A and E. Both vitamins decrease the body's breakdown of some fatty acids thus decrease the signs of aging including wrinkled skin. It also provides essential fatty acids, which help prevent calcium loss in bones in adults and promote bone growth in children.

Promotes Healthy Digestion

Olive oil contains magnesium, squalene and cycloartenol, which aid in decreasing acidity within the stomach and help alkalise food leaving the stomach.