Extra virgin olive oil: a fat that doesn’t make you fat!
High quality olive oil could be defined as “a fat that does not make you fat”.
Although the precious “gold of the Mediterranean” has a high calorie content – equal to about 90 Kcal per spoon – Its beneficial properties are so many that the dose recommended by experts and nutritionists is 3 – 4 tablespoons per day. This is because the amount of calories, is not directly proportional to weight gain, rather the opposite. Let’s see why.
Extra virgin olive oil for weight loss, but with pleasure!
Extra virgin olive oil is an essential food for our health that improves metabolism without promoting weight gain. For this reason, it is a food that absolutely must find its place in our diet, unlike many other fats, some of which are considered healthy. The reason: olive oil behaves differently from high quality coconut or sunflower oil. It is the only edible oil that contains high levels of polyphenols, which give the oil some of its added value, it is long-chain and is absorbed slowly and constantly, and it is also rich in vitamins. The extremely short-chain coconut oil, which is very popular with athletes because of its rapid absorption and energy release, is not useful for weight reduction in people who exercise less than 3 times a week and are not on a ketogenic diet; the same applies to organic sunflower oil, despite its high vitamin E content.
The good fats in olive oil in combination with the other accompanying substances reduce the glycaemic load of a meal. They develop an anti-insulin effect , the hormone responsible for fat storage in the stomach: i.e. a meal without olive oil is not only less tasty, but also less healthy.
Flavour also plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy weight. This is confirmed by a study conducted by the Technical University of Munich and the University of Vienna, according to which the aroma of the oil stimulates the
the feeling of satiety and acts as a brake against overeating. A nice advantage especially for those who want to stick to a diet and limit hunger pangs.
Virgin olive oil also for the beauty of skin and hair
Who said that olive oil should only be used for weight loss? This food is actually also excellent for its nourishing and moisturising properties. The benefits are mainly skin and hair, which are exposed to the attack of environmental factors every day.
Science has explained how virgin olive oil nourishes and revitalises the hair thanks to the fatty acids and vitamin E, it eliminates dullness and dryness and restores the natural shine.
Vitamins and fatty acids are also excellent for the skin, which needs more moisture to stay soft and smooth when exposed to sun or sea water. Olive oil also acts as an anti-ageing agent: massaging a thin layer of oil all over the body every day can tighten the skin and slow down the appearance of the dreaded wrinkles.
Read also: Olive oil polyphenols: Against cell damage and skin ageing
