Health Benefits of Extra Light Olive Oil

January 6, 2022

Is olive oil healthy? Everything in moderation, of course, but it is, in fact, one of the healthiest cooking oils available. It has a high monounsaturated fat content, which is better for your heart than saturated fats.

If you’re counting calories, you might find yourself drawn to extra light or light olive oil, however. Is it really better for you than your favorite extra virgin olive oil? Let’s take a look to help you figure out what’s right for your needs.

Extra light and light olive oils

If you’re looking for a diet olive oil, we’re sorry to disappoint you. No matter what kind of olive oil you purchase, extra light and light only refer to the color and the flavor of the oil. All olive oils have about 120 calories per tablespoon and 14 grams of fat.

Use extra light or light olive oils when you’re cooking over high heat. Extra light olive oil has been refined, so it has a higher smoke point than extra virgin olive oil. It’s a more neutral-tasting olive oil than extra virgin, which comes from the first olive pressing. Extra virgin has a lot more flavor, ranging from fruity to spicy to grassy (which is delicious but not so great for baking or cooking with high heat). Extra light olive oil won’t break down, and the flavor will blend into the other ingredients you’re using.

Olive oil nutritional benefits

You already know that olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats, which are better for your heart health. Did you know that oleic acid (a monounsaturated fat that makes up about 73 percent of extra virgin olive oil’s content) also reduces inflammation? Since chronic inflammation is responsible for a number of different health conditions, including heart disease, cancer and more, this is a healthy choice for your everyday cooking needs.

Furthermore, olive oil is packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants fight disease-causing free radicals in your body, preventing illness and serious, chronic diseases. They’ve been linked to reducing risk of heart disease, which might be one reason the Mediterranean diet is so healthy.

Another great benefit of olive oil: It’s not linked to weight gain and obesity. Not only does it taste great, but diets rich in olive oil are actually great for weight loss. While that’s not an invitation to guzzle the liquid gold, it does mean that you can drizzle it over salads and other dishes with (relative) abandon.

Finally, olive oil also has antibacterial benefits. If you’re prone to stomach ulcers or have a family history of stomach cancer, consider making olive oil a bigger part of your diet. It can kill the h. pylori bacteria, which causes ulcers and stomach cancer. Not bad for a tasty treat that we’d gladly consume anyway!

Now that you know that olive oil is healthy and offers plenty of other benefits, why not create your own perfect blend? Work with Liquid Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. to create and distribute your own private label olive oil. Call us today to learn more and get started.

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