Olive | What is Olive Fruit | Health Benefits and Uses of Olive Fruit

Olive | What is Olive Fruit | What are the Health Benefits of Olive Fruit | Uses of Olive Fruit | Nutritional Value of Olive Fruit

Olives have been produced in Lebanon, Jordan and Israel/Palestine from prehistoric times. By 2000 BC, olive oil was being exported to Egypt and Phoenicia; records of the Mesopotamian Third dynasty of Ur empire (21st to 20th century BC), indicate olive oil as one of the exports from the region presently known as Syria. Clearly some form of the olive press was in use by that time; descriptions of such presses are to be found in ancient Greece.

However, olives are not mentioned among items in the regular diet in ancient Mesopotamia possibly, only the oil was used primarily for grooming. The records of Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BC), mention olives being planted.

Olive production reached Asia Minor (present day Turkey) most likely around the middle of the first millennium BC. It reached the eastern shores of the Mediterranean subsequently. In the centuries following Christ, olive oil became a staple in the Roman diet.

Health Benefits of Olives/ Olive Oil:

* The mono-saturated fats present in olives/olive oil, when combined with the antioxidant protection offered by vitamin E, lower the risk of damage and inflammation.

* Olive/olive oil contains active phytonutrient compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids, which have been found to have significant anti-inflammatory properties.

strong> * The vitamin E present in olives/olive oil has been known to offer cellular protection against free radicals present in the body.

* Olives/olive oil prevents the oxidation of cholesterol in the body and thus, helps reduce the risk of having heart attack or stroke.

* Since they help the body in neutralizing free radicals, the nutrients in olives/olive oil also lead to prevention of colon cancer.

* Olives/olive oil are said to be effective in reducing the frequency and/or intensity of hot flashes in women, who are going through menopause.

* Regular consumption of olive oil has been associated with decrease in systolic (maximum) as well as diastolic (minimum) blood pressure.

* Those who consume olives/olive oil are at a lesser risk of developing diabetes at later stages in life.

* Good quality olive/olive oil contains a natural chemical that acts like a painkiller.

Olive/olive oil has been known to be beneficial for people suffering from the following ailments:

>> Asthma

>> Osteoarthritis

>> Rheumatoid Arthritis

>> Arteriosclerosis

>> Stomach Problems

>> Constipation

>> Diabetes

Nutritional Value of Olives: