Eat Me: Six reasons olives are good for you

Olive fruit is a major component of the Mediterranean diet gotten from the olive plant.

It is rich in a number of nutrients including sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, iodine and vitamins E, A, D and K.

Below are six reasons olives are good for your health.

Good for the heart

Olives eliminate excess cholesterol in the blood. The triglycerides contained in olive as well as oleic and linoleic acids. These healthy fatty acids maintain the balance of the cholesterol fractions in the bloodstream, keeping heart diseases at bay.

Reduces risk of memory loss

Olives are naturally rich in polyphenols, a natural chemical that reduces oxidative stress in the brain thus reducing the effects of degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, benign and malignant tumours.

Prevents anaemia

Olives are rich in iron. A deficiency in iron causes anaemia, a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. But consumption of olives prevents the onset of this disease.

Controls blood pressure

The quercetin content in olive helps to prevent spike in blood pressure.

Boosts immune system

Olives are a great source of vitamin E which has the ability to neutralise free radicals in the body. It contains many antioxidants like hydroxytyrosol and tyrosolthat which play an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system, especially during oxidative stress and chronic viral diseases.

Aids weight loss

By eating olives before a meal, you can reduce your appetite by up to 20%. The monounsaturated fatty acids contained in olives slow down the digestion process and stimulate the hormone cholecystokinin, a hormone that sends messages of fullness to the brain.

It also helps your body to stimulate the production of adiponectin, a chemical that burns fat for up to five hours after ingestion.