We tell you all about olives and their properties✅ Discover, in this new article from Aceitunas Chicón Lebrón, the benefits they have for health?
The olive tree is a tree, originating from Greece and Asia, which gives us that fruit we love so much for snacks, olives. In all possible sizes, whether green, black, or sliced by the grandmother, they flavor many of our dishes, especially salads, potato salads, pizzas, turnovers, sauces, stuffed eggs, and canapés. Currently, Spain, Portugal, and Italy are the main olive-producing countries worldwide.
Properties of Olives
In this post, we wanted to talk to you about olives and their properties because this product has quite a few. Olives contain vitamins and minerals, and also contain large amounts of oleic acid, which helps reduce bad cholesterol. Olives also have among their properties quite a bit of monounsaturated fats, which are those that help control the body and, therefore, the ones it needs. Finally, they contain sodium, which is why hypertensive individuals should control olive consumption to keep it moderate.
Benefits of Olives
In addition to olives and their properties, at Aceitunas Chicón Lebrón, we want to talk to you about the multiple health benefits of the products we market, olives.
Source: Freepik
1. Reduces cholesterol
Thanks to the oleic acid we mentioned earlier, olives help reduce bad cholesterol. Therefore, they protect against heart-related diseases.
2. Aid digestion
Olives have a high fiber content, which is very positive for our health as it regulates the intestine, eliminates toxins, and improves digestion in general.
3. Beneficial for the skin
We also have to mention the vitamins contained in these products, vitamins A and E. These vitamins are good for the skin and have anti-aging benefits.
4. Provide energy
Olives are also characterized by their high iron content, which helps synthesize carnitine and provides us with the energy we need. This is why they are a good food for people with anemia.
5. Aid against anemia
In addition to potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iodine, olives contain iron, although in smaller proportions compared to sodium. Due to the brine added to preserve their shelf life, they are considered one of the foods richest in sodium.
The iron content in olives, especially in black varieties, makes them allies for those suffering from anemia or prone to it.
6. Prevent heart diseases
Olives are an excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, known as heart-healthy fats due to their benefits for heart health.
Thanks to their content of unsaturated fats, olives help prevent heart conditions and circulatory diseases. They contribute to regulating cholesterol levels, avoiding its accumulation, and, in the long term, reducing the risk of artery hardening, known as atherosclerosis.
7. Improve memory
An additional reason to include olives in your diet is their benefit for memory. Studies have shown that daily consumption of olives can improve memory by up to 25%.
8. Not fattening
Well, regarding whether olives are as calorific as commonly believed, their energy value is certainly high, but not as much as commonly believed. In 100 grams of green olives, we find a little over 100 calories. Consuming seven olives a day, the recommended amount by experts, barely adds up to 37 calories.
It is important to note that when choosing a variety, black olives are considerably more caloric than green ones, almost tripling their caloric content, with 294 calories per 100 grams.
Nutritional Properties
Olives, like olive oil, are recognized for their positive effects on health, especially in preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity due to their nutritional composition:
1. Oleic acid: Abundant in olives, this monounsaturated fatty acid is essential for cardiovascular health, making olives and their oil powerful allies against heart diseases.
2. Vitamin E: Present in the form of tocopherols, vitamin E in olives acts as an antioxidant, protecting lipoproteins and cells from damage caused by free radicals, thus helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.
3. Vitamin A: Essential for skin and vision health, vitamin A in olives helps maintain radiant and elastic skin, while promoting good eye health.
4. Minerals: Although olives are known for their sodium content, they also provide iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and other minerals, making them a beneficial option for combating anemia and promoting bone and muscle health.
5. Pigments: Chlorophyll present in olives acts as a protective shield against oxidation, maintaining their freshness and quality.
6. Plant sterols: These natural compounds help reduce LDL cholesterol levels ( “bad” cholesterol) in the blood by competing with its absorption in the body, further contributing to cardiovascular health.
Green Olives or Black Olives?
What are your favorites? Green olives and black olives are similar