In an ideal world, every kitchen would contain at least one bottle of olive oil. Olive oil is commonly used in Mediterranean countries. It is no coincidence that people in countries like Italy, Greece, Spain and Turkey have a comparatively high average life expectancy. Regularly consuming olive oil offers numerous health benefits. Olive oil can also be used as a beauty product for the hair, nails and skin.
1. Excellent of heart health
Why is olive oil so good for human health? Olive oil is an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids. It actually has more monounsaturated fatty acids than any other type of cooking oil. Monounsaturated fatty acids are excellent for heart health. They reduce levels of harmful LDL cholesterol while increasing the amount of beneficial HDL cholesterol. Olive oil is also packed with polyphenols and antioxidant vitamins A and E. These antioxidants help to neutralize the damaging impact of free radicals on the body. Hence consuming olive oil on a regular basis may help to fight cancer and slow the signs of aging.
2. You can find it everywhere
You can find olive oil at any supermarket or grocery store. It is worth investing in extra virgin olive oil because it contains more monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. There are many different ways to use olive oil in cooking. You can use it instead of butter or other cooking oils when frying food. You can also use olive oil to make many traditional Mediterranean meals. Italian pesto sauce, for example, contains a significant amount of olive oil. You can also use olive oil to make your own salad dressing.
3. Improves skin and hair look
Simply consuming olive oil in your diet will improve the look of your skin and hair. However you can also get the beauty benefits from olive oil without ingesting it. That’s why so many high-end beauty products list olive oil as one of the main ingredients. If you want to save money, you might wish to consider making your own olive oil beauty products at home.
4. Moisturizer for your skin
You can use olive oil to moisturize your skin. If you have a patch of excessively dry skin, massage a little olive oil directly on to the area you wish to treat. To generally moisturize, just add a tablespoon of olive oil to your bath water. You might also want to consider adding a few drops of your favorite aromatherapy oil to your bath for a more relaxing experience. If you want to moisturize your face, you can use olive oil to make your own face mask. To do this you’ll need to combine olive oil with a couple of teaspoons of raw honey and an egg yolk. Leave the mask on your face for fifteen minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
5. Moisturizer for your hair
You can use olive oil on your hair to add moisture. Doing this will make your hair shine and eliminate frizz. There are two ways of using olive oil to moisturize your hair and scalp. You can simply heat up some olive oil and massage it into your hair and scalp. Leave the oil on your hair for one hour before shampooing it out. Alternatively you could make a hair conditioner using lemon juice, olive oil and an egg yolk. Once again, it is a good idea to leave the conditioner in your hair for a while before rinsing it out.
6. Improves look and feel of your hands
You can use olive oil to improve the look and feel of your hands. Simply apply a generous amount of olive oil to your hands before putting on cotton gloves. Wear the gloves overnight. It doesn’t smell very appealing, but you’ll be surprised how soft your hands feel the next day. You can also use olive oil to soften your cuticles and strengthen your fingernails. To do this, combine a couple of tablespoons of olive oil with the juice from one lemon. Soak your fingernails in the mixture for ten minutes.