Extra-virgin olive oil is the most digestible of edible fats.
It helps the bile, liver and intestinal functions, fighting against gallstone and stomach ulcer formation and aiding in digestion.
Olive oil contains antioxidants and vitamins E and K. It also helps the body assimilate vitamins A and D.
It is said to help in the development of strong bones and to prevent Alzheimer's and other aging diseases. The average life expectancy in Italy is 77 for men and 85 for women, compared with 74 for men and 80 for women in the United States.
Harvard researchers say olive oil could help us live longer. They found that quercetin, abundant in olive oil, has anti-cancer and anti-heart disease properties. Olive oil has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduces coronary artery disease. Accordingly the FDA is allowing the following claim to be used for foods: "Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 2 tablespoons of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil." Many Italians drink a small glass of olive oil every day.
Northwestern University lab tests on breast cancer cells showed the oleic acid in olive oil sharply cut levels of a gene thought to trigger the disease. The acid boosted the effectiveness of a breast cancer drug herceptin.
Courtesy:
http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050214/ENTERTAINMENT/502140301/1015
