What is healthier to add to one’s everyday diet, olives or the olive oil?
Both olives and olive oil are very healthy foods. The fruits of the olive tree (olives) contain important antioxidants and polyphenols, which have a beneficial effect on the heart, blood vessels. Besides, they are believed to prevent many serious diseases, including cancer and heart-related diseases.In addition, olives contain a large amount of high-quality vitamin E, which is called the vitamin of youth and longevity, as well as B vitamins, important minerals and acids.
Extra virgin olive oil (first cold pressed) is essentially the juice from the olives, the squeeze of the best they have, including vitamin E, important polyphenols and antioxidants. However, the olive oil does not have the fiber inherent in the fruits of the olive tree. Basically it is everything that the fruits have minus the fiber.
Also olive oil is caloric. A reasonable balance of the amount / benefit of extra virgin olive oil per day – in its caloric content, approximately 899 kcal per 100 g. Being conscious about weight control without compromising the nutritional value of food, it is recommended to consume 2 to 4 tsp of olive oil per day.
A reasonable balance of consumption of olives per day is 60 – 80 grams, which is equal to about 18-22 average-sized fruits.
To sum up, both olives and extra virgin olive oil are incredibly useful products for health, but like any other products, they must be consumed consciously and dosed, taking into account the caloric content and, in the case of olives, the amount and usefulness of preservatives used (usually salt).
What do you eat more often, olives or olive oil?
