Olive oil benefits your health when used appropriately
Olive oil is derived from grinding olives at cold temperatures to preserve its natural substances. It is called a mono-saturated fat, which means it's good for your heart and blood.
Sherri Rule, a Registered Dietitian, says the antioxidant agents in olives helps your health. "It can help decrease cholesterol levels, it can help decrease your blood pressure; there's some thought, through animal studies, it can be helpful for bone health. It's also been shown to help decrease the risk of certain types of cancers," said Rule.
You can also use olive oil for your skin, nails, and hair. Olive oil contains 126 calories per tablespoon, so you want to use it moderately in your foods. Consuming too much of it can contribute to weight gain.
Facebooker Patricia Malette says: "I use it often for frying potatoes or veggies."
Sarah Monte, an Education Coordinator with Marquette Food Co-op, says it may be tempting to use olive oil to fry foods. However, you need to use it the right way with the appropriate foods like salads or breads. Sarah also says using it at a high heating level will take away the good agents. "But don't think you can fry chicken in it or even use high heat sautéing. Olive oil is really not good for you if you're using it at extreme high heats, so you want to stick with raw or low heat for using olive oil," said Monte.
Josh, a local shopper, says he enjoys using it on his breads with garlic and salt. "It's a good substitute for butter; it's got a lot of good fats in it, a lot of omegas, and it's just a healthy alternative," said Josh.
An interesting tidbit is that oil from an olive leaf can actually help your immune system overcome the flu. The extract that comes from the leaf is available in capsules, too.