Olives are a tasty condiment that might remind you of a family get together, since many people only serve them on special occasions. However, they should reconsider since there are many health benefits to these tasty morsels, whether they're black, green, stuffed with a pimento or Kalamata olives.
Nutrition Facts
Olives have a fair amount of iron, oleic acid, vitamin E, fiber, monounsaturated oil (oleic acid) and copper but it's the phytonutrients, which give your body the real boost. It contains several types of phytonutrients, such as two types of phenols, four types of terpenes, four flavonoids, coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid. Of course, the total content of phytonutrients the olives contain varies by the ripeness, the treatment for market and the variety.
Fats, Cholesterol and Calories
The high fat content of olives is particularly interesting when it comes to health. About 80 to 85 percent of the olive's calories are from fat. The majority of the fat is oleic acid. This type of fat is monounsaturated, which can decrease the bad cholesterol levels in the blood and improve the ratio of the good to the bad cholesterol. The oleic acid can also help lower blood pressure as well.
Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidants Health Benefits
In addition to the fat content, there are a number of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients in the olive, some of which are contained in no other food. Because of the extensive list of phytonutrients, the olive health benefits go beyond just the nutritional value and help every part of the body.
Oxidative Stress and Free Radicals
For instance, oxidative stress affects the entire body. It comes from free radicals attacking the cells and capturing one of the electrons, changing the cell's structure chemically. Oxidative stress causes illness and aging. However, vitamin E, found in olives, can prevent the oxidative stress. Other minerals in olives such as zinc and selenium, even though found in small amounts, also help. The oleuropein, only found in olives also helps decrease the potential oxidation of cholesterol and protects the nerves from damage. Eating olives can help increase levels of another important antioxidant in the blood, glutathione.
More Health Benefits
Olives also contain phytonutrients that produce anti-inflammatory effects. They block the histamine receptors at the cellular level, it blocks inflammation. It also lowers the amount of leukotriene, a molecule that signals the body to produce inflammation.
In addition, other phytonutrients such as oleuropein, block the activity of an enzyme nitric oxide synthase, associated with inflammation. Inflammation can affect the heart causing cardiovascular disease and other parts of the body, such as occurs with arthritis or cancer.
Because of both the anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant properties of olives, they provide protection for the cells from oxidative damage that can lead to cancer. Oxidative stress damages the cells and increases the risk of cancer just as chronic inflammation does. Researchers have found some interesting correlation with the phytonutrients in olives and the reduction of risk for breast cancer and stomach cancer. While the scientists don't know how they protect the cells, they believe it might be due to the DNA protection that olives provide, staving off oxidative stress that can lead to cancer.







