Sunday, March 11, 2012

Olive Oil has Health Benefits and Tastes Wonderful

For those readers who live near Darien, there is a new shop open named Olivette.  The owner Alina has rows and rows of virgin olive oils, infused olive oils, balsamics and more
Infused Olive Oils can be used in place of vegetable or plain olive oil to add subtle flavor in sautés, vinaigrettes or marinades.  Drizzle on fresh and grilled vegetables, grilled steaks and meats or use simply on its own as a dipping oil with crusty bread.  Instant Flavor!
 
 
It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps.
The main type of fat found in all kinds of olive oil is monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). MUFAs are actually considered a healthy dietary fat. If your diet emphasizes unsaturated fats, such as MUFAs and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), instead of saturated fats and trans fats, you may gain certain health benefits.
MUFAs and PUFAs may help lower your risk of heart disease by improving related risk factors. For instance, MUFAs may lower your total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. MUFAs may also help normalize blood clotting. And some research shows that MUFAs may also benefit insulin levels and blood sugar control, which can be especially helpful if you have type 2 diabetes.
But even healthier fats like olive oil are high in calories, so use them only in moderation. Choose MUFA-rich foods such as olive oil instead of other fatty foods — particularly butter and stick margarine — not in addition to them. And remember that you can't make unhealthy foods healthier simply by adding olive oil to them.