8 Benefits of Olive Oil

What are the benefits of olive oil? As we all know, olive oil is not your average cooking oil as it has a lot of benefits than your regular cooking oil thanks to its nutrient-rich traits.

Olive oil has a range of significant health benefits, one of the main benefits is its ability to reduce inflammation. 

The anti-inflammatory compounds in olive oil can help relieve chronic inflammation associated with various diseases. 

In addition, olive oil also plays an important role in maintaining heart health. Olive oil consumption can help lower the risk of heart disease by improving blood lipid profiles and reducing blood pressure.

Not to mention the antioxidant content in this oil that helps protect our body’s cells from oxidative damage that can lead to chronic diseases, including cancer.

They are rich in essential nutrients, including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which contribute to the balance of nutrients in our diet. 

However, the most predominant fatty acid in olive oil is oleic acid that has various benefits for our body, such as promoting metabolic health and supporting optimal brain function.

With all these benefits, it is no surprise that olive oil is often recommended as a healthy option for cooking and as part of a balanced diet.

Well, that was just the tip of the benefits of olive oil, let’s get tucked in into dimulti’s today’s article to know more about the other benefits of olive oil!

Benefits of Olive Oil

1. Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels

Recent research has shown that people who eat a healthy diet regularly, including by consuming olive oil, tend to have more controlled blood sugar levels and improved insulin sensitivity. 

These benefits are very important as they can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Olive oil, with its healthy fatty acid content, plays a role in improving insulin function and regulating blood glucose levels. 

This is thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help reduce insulin resistance-a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes.

2. Lowering Bad Cholesterol

Consuming olive oil can help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in individuals with high cholesterol. 

In addition, olive oil can also increase good cholesterol (HDL) levels, which contributes to better heart health. 

Apart from olive oil, other healthy types of oils, such as canola oil and virgin coconut oil, also offer similar benefits.

3. Preventing Alzheimer

Alzheimer is the most common neurodegenerative condition in the world which may lead to a decline in cognition and memory loss.

A study in 2024 showed the antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory properties in olive oil help maintain brain health and function.

That study also shown that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances in olive oil can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders, such as stroke and dementia.

4. Preventing Cancer

An analysis in 2022 shows that people who consumed high amounts of olive oil were 31% less likely to develop cancer.

This may be due to the fact that antioxidants are substances that can prevent and repair cell damage caused by exposure to free radicals. 

And on top of that, antioxidants are also known to prevent and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Also Read: “5 Types of Olive Oil“

5. Protective Against Heart Disease

The antioxidant content in olive oil also plays a role in reducing the risk of heart disease. 

This is because olive oil does not contain bad cholesterol or saturated fat, so it will prevent an increase in cholesterol levels that can cause narrowing of blood vessels.

This healthy oil is actually good for consumption to prevent cholesterol buildup that can cause heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases, including stroke.

6. Maintaining Body Weight

Another benefit of olive oil is that this super oil is able to maintain your ideal body weight and isn’t associated with weight gains.

Olive oil is also good for those of you who are on a diet, especially the paleo diet, or trying to maintain an ideal weight. This natural oil is also good for consumption to prevent obesity.

However, to get the benefits of olive oil on this one, you also need to balance it with exercising regularly, limiting calorie intake, and having a healthy diet.

7. Controlling Your Blood Pressure

One of the most popular benefits of olive oil is to control blood pressure. A study states that consuming about 20 ml of olive oil or about 2 tablespoons per day is proven to control blood pressure.

This is thought to be thanks to the antioxidant content and healthy fatty acids in olive oil that can reduce inflammation in the blood vessels.

8. Good For Your Skin

Aside from the health benefits that you’ll get from the olive oil, the olive oil is also popular for cosmetic uses.

Olive oil is able to lock in skin moisture, so it is often used for dry skin care. You can apply olive oil on your dry skin of the face, hands or feet.

Well that’s a wrap! The 8 benefits of olive oil in one go!

But do you know, to get the full benefit of the olive oil, it’s also important to choose the olive oils that have been tested for its quality and standards.

In Indonesia, a quality olive oil is the one that has been certified by the SNI certification.

And for the standard itself, it is clearly stated in SNI 3741:2013 that regulates cooking oils!