We have known this forever. Sooner or later the effects of all the oily fries, poori, burgers and sabzi will catch up. You will feel lethargic, the expanding waistline will make you regret your dietary choices, your skin will lose its sheen and your heart, well you can never take this organ for granted. But you do need a certain amount of oil to cook your meals, you cannot be eating salads all day either, right. That is a fair concern, which is why health experts around the word are recommending switching to an oil that is healthier, such as olive oil. The superfood has single-handedly made Mediterranean food popular across the world in our opinion. Olive oil, as you may have guessed, is oil retrieved from olive fruit. There are many types of olive oil depending upon the amount of processing it goes through. The highest grade of olive oil is Extra virgin olive oil, which is oil crushing or cold-pressing olives, in other words, it is the top-quality oil you can have in your pantry. But since it has a very low smoke point, it is a terrible option to cook with. Pomace olive oil is the variant that you can use for mild cooking. 

Olive oil comes loaded with heart-protective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is also a tremendous source of monounsaturated fats and poly unsaturated fats (MUFA and PUFA), that are dubbed as the ‘good fats’ one must include in their diets.  

Here are some benefits of olive oil, you may not have known about.

1. Good for heart

Olive oil is excellent for heart. It protects heart by keeping bad cholesterol (LDL) in check and promote healthy cholesterol (HDL). It also contains more MUFAs than any other ‘healthy’ oil substitute out there.

2. Give you a fabulous skin

Olive oil is replete with antioxidants, especially vitamin E, that fights free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for dull skin, premature ageing, wrinkling.  

3. Good for digestion

Olive oil is light on tummy and easy to digest, they are also renowned for their healing effects on ulcers.

4. Better chances at weight loss

MUFAs are also known to promote satiety, thus facilitating your sustainable weight-loss plan. If you are satiated, you are not overcome by the urge to binge.

5. Improves brain function

Studies have found links between omega 3 fatty acids and better cognitive function. Omega 6 fatty acids may also help improve memory retention.