Showing posts with label Olive oil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Olive oil. Show all posts

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Benefits of Cooking with Olive Oil


Olive oil has been used and enjoyed over the years for many purposes. While beauty treatments for the skin and hair are quite popular uses of olive oil, cooking with olive oil has been a fairly common practice since ages too. There are a lot of benefits of cooking with olive oil. While some may be simply to make the process of cooking easier, others may be to invoke a special flavor in your culinary delights. Apart from that, using olive oil in food also has a number of health benefits. This article will tell you about the different uses of olive oil, when used in cooking.


Cooking Benefits of Olive Oil

When we say cooking benefits, we mean the plus points that olive oil has to the actual process of cooking the food. Sure there are different ways of cooking with oil, but all the methods do not use the same oil. Some oils may be suitable for some processes, while some may not. Let us see the different processes that olive oil can be used for.

Drizzling: Well, this may not really qualify as cooking, it sure does add to the aesthetic and flavor value of a salad or a grilled chicken leg, when you take that bottle of olive oil and drizzle it generously over a green or vegetable salad or a grilled chicken leg. It is also used as a healthy marinade.

Frying: Many people doubt the use of olive oil for frying. But here's the good news. Olive oil can safely be used for frying foods. However, you may want to use the bottle labeled simply 'olive oil' rather than 'virgin' or 'extra virgin olive oil'. Simple olive oil is an inexpensive option and also useful because it does not penetrate into the food while getting fried.

Sautéing: Since frying is alright with olive oil, using it to sauté food is also a pretty good idea. It helps to brown and soften the food faster. Use extra virgin olive oil to sauté the food, and maintain a low heat so that you don't end up burning it.

Brushing: The use of olive oil can also be seen before the process of cooking. For instance, just before you roast a piece of meat, you can generously apply olive oil onto the piece of meat, along with its marinade, to give it an extra crumbly crust.

Baking: Whoever thought of this was a genius. We all know that baking involves the use of fatty substances. You can use olive oil instead of these fatty substances like butter or margarine. It will be a lighter and healthier choice.

Health Benefits of Cooking with Olive Oil

Apart from the various cooking benefits of olive oil, this lovely colored oil also has tremendous health benefits. Some of these health benefits of cooking with olive oil have been listed below. Combined with the points given above, you'll have to start looking for reasons not to use this oil in your kitchen.

Lowers LDL Cholesterol
There is good cholesterol and there is bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol is called HDL and bad cholesterol is LDL. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats. These fats help to bring down the level of bad cholesterol, i.e. LDL, that too without having any kind of adverse effect on the good cholesterol. What else do you need to know?

Helps Prevent Heart Problems
When there is not enough oxygen in our body, free radicals are formed within, which can cause severe damage to our body tissues. Olive oil has anti-oxidant properties that restrict this free radical formation. Anti-oxidants help to prevent heart disease which can be caused by the formation of free radicals. Also, olive oil contains oleic acid, which helps to prevent the clotting of blood in the arteries. In short, consume olive oil for a healthy heart.

Controls Diabetes
Studies have shown that olive oil also helps people suffering from diabetes to keep their blood sugar level in control. The amount of fats consumed by diabetics should be kept in check. Olive oil, as mentioned above, contains healthy fats. So, it helps in keeping the level of fat in check too.

So, as you can see, the benefits of cooking with olive oil are two-pronged. It not only adds to the flavor and overall appearance of the food, it also helps you to maintain a healthy heart and body. So, what are you waiting for? Get your can/bottle/tin today and get cooking!

Benefits of Cooking with Olive Oil


Olive oil has been used and enjoyed over the years for many purposes. While beauty treatments for the skin and hair are quite popular uses of olive oil, cooking with olive oil has been a fairly common practice since ages too. There are a lot of benefits of cooking with olive oil. While some may be simply to make the process of cooking easier, others may be to invoke a special flavor in your culinary delights. Apart from that, using olive oil in food also has a number of health benefits. This article will tell you about the different uses of olive oil, when used in cooking.


Cooking Benefits of Olive Oil

When we say cooking benefits, we mean the plus points that olive oil has to the actual process of cooking the food. Sure there are different ways of cooking with oil, but all the methods do not use the same oil. Some oils may be suitable for some processes, while some may not. Let us see the different processes that olive oil can be used for.

Drizzling: Well, this may not really qualify as cooking, it sure does add to the aesthetic and flavor value of a salad or a grilled chicken leg, when you take that bottle of olive oil and drizzle it generously over a green or vegetable salad or a grilled chicken leg. It is also used as a healthy marinade.

Frying: Many people doubt the use of olive oil for frying. But here's the good news. Olive oil can safely be used for frying foods. However, you may want to use the bottle labeled simply 'olive oil' rather than 'virgin' or 'extra virgin olive oil'. Simple olive oil is an inexpensive option and also useful because it does not penetrate into the food while getting fried.

Sautéing: Since frying is alright with olive oil, using it to sauté food is also a pretty good idea. It helps to brown and soften the food faster. Use extra virgin olive oil to sauté the food, and maintain a low heat so that you don't end up burning it.

Brushing: The use of olive oil can also be seen before the process of cooking. For instance, just before you roast a piece of meat, you can generously apply olive oil onto the piece of meat, along with its marinade, to give it an extra crumbly crust.

Baking: Whoever thought of this was a genius. We all know that baking involves the use of fatty substances. You can use olive oil instead of these fatty substances like butter or margarine. It will be a lighter and healthier choice.

Health Benefits of Cooking with Olive Oil

Apart from the various cooking benefits of olive oil, this lovely colored oil also has tremendous health benefits. Some of these health benefits of cooking with olive oil have been listed below. Combined with the points given above, you'll have to start looking for reasons not to use this oil in your kitchen.

Lowers LDL Cholesterol
There is good cholesterol and there is bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol is called HDL and bad cholesterol is LDL. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats. These fats help to bring down the level of bad cholesterol, i.e. LDL, that too without having any kind of adverse effect on the good cholesterol. What else do you need to know?

Helps Prevent Heart Problems
When there is not enough oxygen in our body, free radicals are formed within, which can cause severe damage to our body tissues. Olive oil has anti-oxidant properties that restrict this free radical formation. Anti-oxidants help to prevent heart disease which can be caused by the formation of free radicals. Also, olive oil contains oleic acid, which helps to prevent the clotting of blood in the arteries. In short, consume olive oil for a healthy heart.

Controls Diabetes
Studies have shown that olive oil also helps people suffering from diabetes to keep their blood sugar level in control. The amount of fats consumed by diabetics should be kept in check. Olive oil, as mentioned above, contains healthy fats. So, it helps in keeping the level of fat in check too.

So, as you can see, the benefits of cooking with olive oil are two-pronged. It not only adds to the flavor and overall appearance of the food, it also helps you to maintain a healthy heart and body. So, what are you waiting for? Get your can/bottle/tin today and get cooking!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Is Olive Oil Good for Hair

Olive oil is a thick oil extracted from the fruits of the olive tree, and has significant uses in cosmetics, medicine and cooking. It is an oil rich in polyphenols, mono-unsaturated fats, vitamins and antioxidants which are also used for various purposes. One such known use of olive oil is for our hair. The presence of the nutrients mentioned above in the olive oil makes it an excellent conditioner for all types of hair. Compared to other hair oils, this has a very less penetrating power due to which you need to massage it on the scalp for a longer period of time. But there are many benefits of using olive oil for hair and a few of these are mentioned below. So, find out, is olive oil good for hair from the following paragraphs.

Is Olive Oil Good for Your Hair?

Many men and women face various issues related to their hair like hair loss, less hair growth, dandruff, split ends and even lice. Olive oil is a rich source of vitamin E which is one of the basic necessities for hair care. Thus, the answer to your question, is olive oil good for hair is, undoubtedly yes. To find out how is olive oil good for you, read some olive oil benefits mentioned below.

Is Olive Oil Good for Hair Growth?
For those of you who are unaware about the types of olive oil, there are four main types. These are extra virgin, virgin, pure and extra light, out of which the extra virgin is known to be the best for hair growth. This is because the extra virgin type of olive oil is the result of the first processing of olives and has the maximum amount of vitamins and mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Though it is more expensive than the other types, the results are equally rewarding. As mentioned earlier, it is thicker and harder to penetrate through the scalp, thus needs a longer massage period. During this time, the hair vitamins gradually enter the hair openings and nourish the roots. This further leads to giving your hair elasticity and stops hair loss, which is why you can notice thicker hair.

But olive oil for hair growth doesn't regrow your hair, just makes the existing hair stronger, so that they don't break easily. This can also be your answer to - is olive oil good for treating hair loss. Hair loss or fall is basically because of the deficiency of vitamins or due to external conditions like pollution, humidity, etc. Thus, when you massage your scalp with it, the antioxidants present the oil flush out these toxins and the vitamins strengthen the roots. But you should always wrap your head with a towel or shower cap once you apply the oil for about 30 minutes and then wash it only with shampoo (no hair conditioner). The process of improving is very slow thus, regular use of this oil is advised for better results.

Is Olive Oil Good for Other Hair Problems?
Apart from being a great conditioner, the other olive oil benefits for hair include anti-dandruff properties. When you massage your scalp with this oil and let it sit for 30 minutes, the antioxidants act on the dandruff, cleaning your scalp gradually. You should also use the oil after you shampoo your hair and leave it for 5 minutes before rinsing it. A regular massage increases blood circulation in the scalp. Thus, a good use of this treatment will surely leave your scalp nourished and clean, giving you healthy, strong and shining hair! There are many hair care products which use olive oil as one of their ingredients, but this oil should be used in its extra virgin form to get excellent results.

With these benefits of this herbal conditioner, hope you found how is olive oil good for hair! This is one of the best gifts of nature to mankind as it's healthy in every way it is used.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Olive Oil for Acne Scars

A face full of acne scars is the last thing anybody would wish for. I am sure you don't even remember how many things you have tried to get rid of those stubborn acne scars. It happens with many people, the solution is simple and easy but they tend to go the other way, making the problem even more challenging. Olive oil - a thing that exists in every household, is one of the best natural skin care solutions to acne scar problems. According to skin experts, the results of olive oil for acne scars can vary for each individual. In case of severe acne scars it takes a longer time for the scars to fade while in some cases, it may show results within few weeks. But definitely, olive oil for acne scars do not have any side effects. Why so? Read further.

Benefits Of Olive Oil

Olive oil for skin care has been used for many years. There are four important advantages of using olive oil for acne prone skin. The first is that olive oil is a skin friendly oil. It is rich in natural anti-oxidants that helps preventing aging of the skin by fighting all the signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots, pimples, and acne. It is also provides your skin with essential vitamins that make your skin look younger by removing the toxins from the skin. Secondly, olive oil has medicinal properties. It is known as a good anti-inflammatory agent and also prevents many types of skin infections. The third advantage is that it is an effective skin soothing remedy. Olive oil as a moisturizer works very well unlike other oils that are gluey. Many women have substituted olive oil for commercial moisturizers. Now the fourth and most important advantage of using olive oil is that it does not block the pores on the skin unlike other oils. Most of the oils are known to block the pores that results in chronic acne and pimple outbreaks. Such blockage does not allow the toxins to expel and external vitamins and oxygen to enter the skin. But olive oil gets absorbed in the skin and promotes healthy and glowing skin. So if you are wondering how to get rid of acne scars naturally then olive is an affordable, simple, and easy answer. To know how to use olive oil for acne scars, read further.

How to Use Olive Oil for Acne

There are many ways to use olive oil for acne scars. You can use it alone or combine it with some other herbal oils that help in removing the acne scars. If you want to reap the maximum olive oil benefits for skin then using it regularly is very important. One of the best ways to use olive oil for acne scars is massaging the skin with olive oil every day. If you have severe skin problems then massage the skin twice a day. First, wash your face with water and pat dry it. Take a few drops of olive oil on your finger tips and gently massage the face in a circular manner for five minutes. Concentrate more on the acne area. After the massage, leave it on the face for twenty minutes for the olive oil to work on it. Then wash your face with lukewarm water without using soap or face wash and pat dry it. Follow this procedure every day before going to bed. You will notice the scars getting lightened. There is another recipe for olive oil for face. Mix olive oil with tea tree oil which is also beneficial for skin and use it in a similar manner. You can also mix it with honey and various essential oils and follow a similar process.

If you wish to use olive oil for acne scars for other than the facial area, then you can mix it with baking soda and then massage it on the dried acne scar for five minutes and then wash with lukewarm water. It is one of the effective acne scar removal treatment methods that will remove the dead skin and lighten the scars slowly. Apart from using olive oil for acne scars, you can use it for other purposes as it is associated with many health benefits. To know more about this you may read health benefits of olive oil and general olive oil benefits. After reading this piece of information on olive oil for acne scars, it is evident that good things come in small packages and and are also more inexpensive than we can ever imagine.

Olive Oil for Acne Scars

A face full of acne scars is the last thing anybody would wish for. I am sure you don't even remember how many things you have tried to get rid of those stubborn acne scars. It happens with many people, the solution is simple and easy but they tend to go the other way, making the problem even more challenging. Olive oil - a thing that exists in every household, is one of the best natural skin care solutions to acne scar problems. According to skin experts, the results of olive oil for acne scars can vary for each individual. In case of severe acne scars it takes a longer time for the scars to fade while in some cases, it may show results within few weeks. But definitely, olive oil for acne scars do not have any side effects. Why so? Read further.

Benefits Of Olive Oil

Olive oil for skin care has been used for many years. There are four important advantages of using olive oil for acne prone skin. The first is that olive oil is a skin friendly oil. It is rich in natural anti-oxidants that helps preventing aging of the skin by fighting all the signs of aging such as wrinkles, dark spots, pimples, and acne. It is also provides your skin with essential vitamins that make your skin look younger by removing the toxins from the skin. Secondly, olive oil has medicinal properties. It is known as a good anti-inflammatory agent and also prevents many types of skin infections. The third advantage is that it is an effective skin soothing remedy. Olive oil as a moisturizer works very well unlike other oils that are gluey. Many women have substituted olive oil for commercial moisturizers. Now the fourth and most important advantage of using olive oil is that it does not block the pores on the skin unlike other oils. Most of the oils are known to block the pores that results in chronic acne and pimple outbreaks. Such blockage does not allow the toxins to expel and external vitamins and oxygen to enter the skin. But olive oil gets absorbed in the skin and promotes healthy and glowing skin. So if you are wondering how to get rid of acne scars naturally then olive is an affordable, simple, and easy answer. To know how to use olive oil for acne scars, read further.

How to Use Olive Oil for Acne

There are many ways to use olive oil for acne scars. You can use it alone or combine it with some other herbal oils that help in removing the acne scars. If you want to reap the maximum olive oil benefits for skin then using it regularly is very important. One of the best ways to use olive oil for acne scars is massaging the skin with olive oil every day. If you have severe skin problems then massage the skin twice a day. First, wash your face with water and pat dry it. Take a few drops of olive oil on your finger tips and gently massage the face in a circular manner for five minutes. Concentrate more on the acne area. After the massage, leave it on the face for twenty minutes for the olive oil to work on it. Then wash your face with lukewarm water without using soap or face wash and pat dry it. Follow this procedure every day before going to bed. You will notice the scars getting lightened. There is another recipe for olive oil for face. Mix olive oil with tea tree oil which is also beneficial for skin and use it in a similar manner. You can also mix it with honey and various essential oils and follow a similar process.

If you wish to use olive oil for acne scars for other than the facial area, then you can mix it with baking soda and then massage it on the dried acne scar for five minutes and then wash with lukewarm water. It is one of the effective acne scar removal treatment methods that will remove the dead skin and lighten the scars slowly. Apart from using olive oil for acne scars, you can use it for other purposes as it is associated with many health benefits. To know more about this you may read health benefits of olive oil and general olive oil benefits. After reading this piece of information on olive oil for acne scars, it is evident that good things come in small packages and and are also more inexpensive than we can ever imagine.