There is evidence from epidemiological studies to suggest that a higher proportion of monounsaturated fats in the diet is linked with a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease.[8] This is of significance because olive oil is considerably rich in monounsaturated fats, most notably oleic acid.
In the United States, producers of olive oil may place the following health claim on product labels:
Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about two tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil. To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day.[9]
This decision was announced November 1, 2004, by the Food and Drug Administration after application was made to the FDA by producers. Similar labels are permitted for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts.[10]
There is a large body of clinical data to show that consumption of olive oil can provide heart health benefits such as favourable effects on cholesterol regulation and LDL cholesterol oxidation, and that it exerts antiinflamatory, antithrombotic, antihypertensive as well as vasodilatory effects both in animals and in humans.[11]
Some clinical evidence, however, suggests that it is olive oil's phenolic content, rather than its fatty acid profile, that is responsible for at least some of its cardioprotective benefits. For example, a clinical trial published[citation needed] in 2005 compared the effects of different types of olive oil on arterial elasticity. Test subjects were given a serving of 60 grams of white bread and 40 milliliters of olive oil each morning for two consecutive days. The study was conducted in two stages. During the first stage, the subjects received polyphenol-rich oil (extra virgin oil contains the highest amount of polyphenol antioxidants). During the second phase, they received oil with only one fifth the phenolic content. The elasticity of the arterial walls of each subject was measured using a pressure sleeve and a Doppler laser. It was discovered that after the subjects had consumed olive oil high in polyphenol antioxidants, they exhibited increased arterial elasticity, while after the consumption of olive oil containing fewer polyphenols, they displayed no significant change in arterial elasticity. It is theorized that, in the long term, increased elasticity of arterial walls reduces vascular stress and consequentially the risk of two common causes of death—heart attacks and stroke. This could, at least in part, explain the lower incidence of both diseases in regions where olive oil and olives are consumed on a daily basis.
olive oil and hair
Hair is often the first thing we notice when we meet someone. It is an important expression of who we are. It also serves a valuable biological purpose; keeping your head warm and helping to regulate body temperature. But since environmental factors can effect our hair over time, it is important to learn healthy ways to protect our crowning glory.
Bad Hair Days
Exposure to the elements can wreak havoc on your hair. In the winter, dryness occurs when the protective outer layer, known as the cuticles, lifts and allows valuable moisture within the hair shaft to evaporate. Sun exposure can also be harmful, damaging your hair’s natural protective film, making it appear dry, dull and brittle. The sun’s ultra violet light chemically breaks down and weakens the keratin proteins, which are the building blocks of our hair.
Easy Hair Care
A healthy lifestyle means healthier hair. Drinking enough water and getting frequent scalp massages are just some of the simple ways to keep your hair silky and shiny. But the real secret comes from within, as any nutritional deficiencies can lead to adverse effects on your hair. Diet profoundly effects the health of not only internal systems and organs, but external ones as well.
Formula 2 Multivitamin Complex is a great way to obtain the vitamins and minerals needed for healthy hair. It contains over 20 essential nutrients such as Zinc which builds hair protein and vitamins B and C which support strong, supple strands of hair. It also includes Iron, which prevents hair follicles from being starved of oxygen and Beta-Carotene, an essential nutrient for hair growth. Herbalifeline®, Tri-Shield®, and Core Complex all contain Omega-3 fatty acids necessary for healthier, shinier looking hair. These essential fatty acids help to condition and lubricate the hair.
Scars from acne can seem like double punishment - first you had to deal with the pimples, now you have marks as a reminder.
Is there anything you can do?
To understand scars, you need to understand acne. Acne refers to lesions or pimples caused
when the hair follicles (or "pores") on the skin become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. A plugged
follicle is the perfect place for bacteria to grow and create the red bumps and pus-filled red bumps known as pimples. (The usual bacteria that causes acne is called Propionibacterium acnes.)
Hormonal changes during the teen years often cause increased oil production that contributes to the problem.
Acne comes in different forms:
" mild acne, which refers to the whiteheads or blackheads that most of us get at various times
" moderately severe acne, which includes red inflamed pimples called papules and red pimples with white centers called pustules
" severe acne, which causes nodules - painful, pus-filled cysts
or lumps - to appear under the skin
Most serious scarring is caused by the more severe forms of acne, with nodules more likely to leave permanent
scars than other types of acne. The best way to deal with acne is to get treatment soon after the acne appears to prevent further severe acne and more scarring. If you have nodules, see your doctor or dermatologist for treatment.
olive oil for acne
Acne is a skin disorder or rashes which affects the skin's oil glands. It is not a serious health problem but when it is left to reach the severe condition it can cause scars. Read on to know how simple yet very effective home remedies can keep acne at bay forever.
Acne is a skin disorder or rashes which affects the skin's oil glands. It is not a serious health problem but when it is left to reach the severe condition it can cause scars. The cause of acne is due to wrong feeding habits like irregular eating hours, improper food, and excess of starches, sugar and fatty foods. Home remedies for acne are enhanced by proper vitamin and mineral supplementation and it cannot be numbered as there are lots of them. The first and foremost of all kinds of problems in an individuals body is due to lack of water. So have to drink lots of water and this is also a major remedy for acne.
Washing the face twice a day in warm salt water will leave your face oil free without irritating the acne.
Apply a paste of fresh methi leaves on the face every night for ten to fifteen minutes and wash with warm water.
Mixture of Lemon juice extract and equal quantity of rose water will also help to cure acne, pimples. The scars and blemishes can be reduced if you apply it on the face and wash the face with fresh water after half and hour. Repeat this method for fifteen to twenty days.
Apply avocado paste mixed with water and wash it after half an hour, this is also a natural remedy for acne.
Apply the pack made by boiling fifty gram of raspberry or strawberry or blackberry leaves with one and half liters of water for three minutes and this will give itching free effect and smooth skin.
Apply a thick mixture of yogurt and oatmeal in the face and wash it with lukewarm water and then apply any antibiotic lotion according to the skin type.
Aloe vera is used as remedial measure for almost all type of skin allergies. Any kind of soaps and gels made from Aloe vera work well in reducing the acne.
A paste of honey and cinnamon powder helps to cure acne damaged skin. Apply the mixture while going to sleep and wash it next day morning.
Apply egg whites using a cotton ball on the affected area for a few hours and wash with fresh water.
Bay leaves are also a remedy for acne. Grind it with water and leave it beside till it becomes cool and then apply on the affected part and wash after a few hours.
One of the most popular remedy for acne is to put toothpaste on the affected area before going to bed. It helps to reduce swelling overnight. It must be a paste and not a gel.
More than all these neem, turmeric, tomato pulp, lemon juice, sandalwood powder, milk, rose water, potatoes, orange peel, cucumber, Lavender oil etc. are good home remedies for acne damaged skin.
With all these home remedies, one major part of it is a well-balanced healthy diet and without this the treatment will not be fulfilled. Fresh fruit juices, vegetables and sprouts are also a must. Chocolate and fried foods must be avoided. Before applying any type of lotion or any home remedy is undertaken, first cleanse the skin thoroughly. Wear clean and neat cotton clothes if the acne is in any part of your body. Whatever the treatment is, patience is very much necessary.
olive oil to use on acne scars
Various types of treatments for removing scars due to acnes are different from each other on price as well as effect. So the treatment is purely based on the acne and it differs from person to person. The article discusses all the available treatment methods to completely remove acne scars.
Our body texture is very much delicate as any damage or injury to it might cause the formation of scar, which looks very odd. The scar totally depends on the depth, size, location or incision of the injury and is also on the factors such as age, heredity, sex etc. as all these will influence the skins reaction.
Individual with the acne scars can get to know the treatment from a dermatologist. Normally, scar removal or smoothing can be done in different methods depending on the criteria such as the person's age, health condition and severity of the acne. The seriousness of scarring will be more if the person is suffering from severe acne, as this type of acne will leave a permanent scar compared to other types of acne say mild and moderate. So to avoid acne scars, it is better to get treatment immediately when the acne appears, rather than postponing the treatment till the acne becomes severe.
Removal of acne scar is treated in different ways which are as follows: Dermabrasion, Laser Resurfacing, Chemical Peels, Punch Techniques and Augmentation. These treatments are different from each other on price as well as effect. So the treatment is purely based on the acne and it differs from person to person.
Dermabrasion is the process where the top layers of the skin will be removed with an abrasive instrument similar to an electric sander. This method leaves the skin red, but after the scar is treated the skin will have smoother and healthier appearance.
Laser Resurfacing is now becoming popular and the doctors also recommend for the same, because of the lasting effects and minimal recurrence of the problem areas. Through this treatment, the damaged skin will be handled carefully by moving in small strokes by using a high-energy light.
Chemical peels are commonly used by doctors and patients when the acne scar is not severe. A chemical is applied to the skin where the acne scar is affected and left there for a few minutes. It is a peel of chemical which helps remove the top layer of the skin and later it allows for regeneration of new and healthier skin.
Punch Technique is a method of removing scars by taking a small portion of skin from one part of the body and transplanting it to the scar area. The portion of skin tissue purely depends upon the amount required and it will be taken from the inner part of the thigh.
Augmentation will help raise the crater-like scars, when the injection is given under an acne scar which has been formed by severe acne. Collagen is a temporary treatment which has to be repeated on a regular basis in case the scar is not deep and it can be injected below the skin to replace the damaged cells and pores.
To decide on an acne scar treatment an individual has to consider the money part, long and the short term reactions about scar removal from a dermatologist. After all, the acne scars cannot be removed completely and having the same skin texture like before is not possible, but it is apparent that treatments will make the scar substantially reduced.
Is Olive Oil Good for Weight Loss?
I was asked this question on a weight loss forum, recently.
The answer is:
All oils, including olive oil, are 100% fat. They contain 9 calories per gram (120 calories/tbsp) which means they should be used sparingly if you want to lose weight.
Olive oil became popular as a result of the Mediterranean Diet which some experts believe is responsible for the low levels of heart disease in Mediterranean countries.
Although Olive oil is a healthy monounsaturated oil, it does not contain any essential fatty acids (EFAs). But it is a stable, health-enhancing oil that has stood the test of time.
When buying olive oil, always buy VIRGIN oil. This denotes it is unrefined.
olive oil face
Polyphenols are a broad class of antioxidants including flavonoids and catechins which are found in red wine, chocolate, tea and many other foods. Antioxidants help slow the ageing process. Olives are high in polyphenols. These substances are water soluble so are mostly found in the waste water after olive processing. The levels are so high that they represent one of the biggest problems in disposing of olive waste. The phenols have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activities so can disturb normal wetland or treatment pond ecology. The oil retains a small amount of the polyphenols. The altitude of the olive grove and the ripeness of the fruit help determine the exact type of polyphenols. Some of these acids are destroyed during olive ripening while other ones increase. Overall there is no difference in the quantity of phenols between green semi-black and ripe olives. Oil made from green olives will give a lower yield but seems to have the most favorable type of polyphenols as the shelf life is considerably longer. Oil from green olives is frequently mixed with oil from mature olives to extend its shelf life. Some of the polyphenols such as hydroxytyrosol have been found in higher concentrations in good quality oils while tyrosol and some other phenolic acids are found in poor quality oils. The difference between virgin and extra virgin is the acid content and organoleptic properties such as taste, so undoubtedly extra virgin has different polyphenols than virgin but as before the total amount of polyphenols are probably the same. Producers are just now looking into creating health products based on the olive water.
olive oil hair treatment
After a long winter's exposure to dry indoor heat, our hair needs some nourishing relief! Here's the simple solution. This easy hair treatment will result in healthier, more manageable hair and a really clean, invigorated scalp. Olive oil nourishes, conditions, and improves the strength and elasticity of your hair, while the couldn't-be-easier process is both stress-reducing and health-promoting.
Here's how.
SIMPLE SOLUTION:
INGREDIENTS (enough for 1 or 2 treatments, depending on the length and thickness of your hair)
½ cup olive oil
5 drops frankincense essential oil (others may be substituted, if you wish)
1 plastic bag that can fit over your hair
1. Pour olive oil into a jar with a lid, then add essential oil. Put lid on jar and shake well to disperse the essential oil. Let sit for 24 hours in a cool, dark place. Shake again before use.
2. Rinse hair with warm water. Warm 1 tablespoon of oil treatment in the palms of your hands. Using your fingertips (not nails), gently massage the oil into the scalp in a circular motion. Repeat until the entire scalp has been massaged. Rub the ends of your hair with the remaining oil.
3. Place a plastic bag over your hair, secure by tying or with a hair clip or clothespin, and allow the oil to remain for at least a half-hour.
4. Rinse well, then shampoo as usual.
olive oil on skin
Olive oil skin care is nothing new. In fact, it is an ancient beauty secret.
Olive oil was discovered over 5000 years ago. It quickly became an essential component of skin care.
The Egyptians (think of the legendary Cleopatra), Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans all took full advantage of the prized oil.
Today, we observe the beautiful skin of Mediterranean women. Many claim their secret is the oil of the tiny fruit.
The exceptional moisturizing ability makes olive oil skin care distinct. Oilve oil will...
Promote a smooth, radiant complexion
Maintain elasticity of skin as it moisturizes
Heal dry, brittle nails and soften cuticles
Condition and add shine to hair
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