So why Olive Oil on our web page? Well we have slowly been growing olive trees for a few years now. Right as I type this we have prepared another area of the farm for another hectare of Olive Trees so that in years to come (they are patient growers these trees taking 7 years before we can properly harvest) we can make the absolute best possible olive oil from the land which have to use.

We are particularly crazy about olives. So much so that between the group of friends we have we buy over 1200kg of olives just after harvest each year and cultivate them ourselves, each person in their “secret” blend of oils, water, spices, etc. They never make it the entire year. Here we wanted to teach you why Olives and indeed, Olive Oil, is so good for you.

Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive that grows on the Olive tree and over 750 million olive trees are cultivated worldwide, 95% of which are in the Mediterranean region. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit and it’s the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is – freshly pressed from the fruit.

Keep it close to your heart

The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidative substances. It’s significantly lower in saturated fat (bad fat) and high in monounsaturated fat (good, healthy fat). Various studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling the bad cholestrol levels while raising the good cholesterol levels. By consuming 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day for 1 week you cholestrol levels will be much more balanced.

All types of olive oil contain monounsaturated fat, but “extra-virgin” or “virgin” olive oils are the least processed forms, so they’re the most heart healthy.

Feed you stomach

Your stomach will love olive oil.In fact, olive oil’s protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis.It activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones much more naturally than prescribed drugs and it lowers the incidence of gallstone formation.

Save your colon

Including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention. Spanish studies have shown that rats fed diet supplemented with olive oil had a lower risk of colon cancer than those fed safflower oil-supplemented diets. In fact, the rats that received olive oil had colon cancer rates almost as low as those fed fish oil, which several studies have already linked to a reduction in colon cancer risk.

Lower your sugar levels

Apart from helping people who suffer from diabetes, olive oil can also play a role in preventing diabetes. As mentioned before olive oil is significantly lower in bad fat and high in  healthy fat. Studies show that it’s the bad fat that leads to an increased risk of developing diabetes. Some research shows that healthy fat could actually help to lower blood sugar levels. So if you you’re diabetic you don’t have to cut out fats all together, just replace it with olive oil.

No more pain

Suffering from achy muscles from working out at the gym or doing too much housework? An olive oil massage will take away the pain in a flash. All you need to do is warm up a cup of olive oil and massage it into the muscles. The heat from the oil will help you relax your stiff muscles and tendons.

Show your teeth

If you’ve ever had problems with your teeth due to tooth decay or issues with your gum you’ll love this home remedy. Olive oil can be used to treat gingivitis. Just rinse your mouth with the mixture of olive oil with water. The best news is that this remedy may also help to ward off periodontal disease by preventing the formation of plaque, which causes tartar build-up.

Clear your throat

A nagging cough can occur anytime during the day or night.  Just take one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. It should help lubricate those nagging tickles in your throat. Not only do you reap from all the health benefits by drinking olive oil this way, you may find that it also tastes better than those over-the-counter cough medications.

source