With January comes a lot of good intentions. Trying to stick to a healthier lifestyle being one of them. It can be a real struggle cutting back especially when you still have cupboards well stocked with goodies from Christmas. But you can make other easy to manage changes like switching to Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil as it has lots of health benefits which I will cover below.

Olive oil is known as the liquid gold of the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean diet is considered to be very healthy and in turn help you live longer. Olives have many benefits but if you don’t enjoy eating the savoury tasting fruit (yes, they do have a seed!), then you can make the most of using olive oil in your cooking instead. As olive oil is made from pressed olives but I find it much more palatable than eating olives!

Start By Buying Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

It’s better to buy Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil to avoid harmful chemicals and pesticides. It’s not just better for your body it also helps the environment. It stops nasty chemicals ending up in our waterways!

Helps Your Heart

Olive oil is said to be good for your heart because it lowers blood pressure and is rich in monounsaturated fatty acid which can help with inflammation. So do the right thing by your heart and stick to olive oil for cooking.

Reduce The Risk Of Stroke

A study in France showed that those who used olive oil (aged over 65) were 41% less likely to have a stroke than those who didn’t. Strokes happen when your blood vessels become blocked. They can be debilitating (or even life threatening) so its worth making the change to reduce your cholesterol levels and blood pressure now. It’s no hardship either, olive oil just compliments the dish your cooking enhancing the flavour.

Better Brain Health

Using Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil would also appear to be better for brain health. Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease are more likely due to a build up of amyloid deposits. Fortunately, olive oil works its magic at helping reduce those harmful deposits.

Decrease Risk Of Diabetes

Using olive oil is said to help with sugar control therefore reducing your risk of diabetes. But if you do have diabetes, it can be a good to use for the some reason. Butter for example should be limited when you have diabetes, so it’s much better to use olive oil instead when cooking. Especially if you enjoy salted butter, all that extra sodium serves to raise blood pressure another definite no-no when your after that healthy lifestyle.

Beneficial For Weight Loss

As olive oil is full of healthy monounsaturated fats it is better for weight loss. The UK has the third highest levels of obesity in the world; therefore, this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. If you are overweight or obese, you are more vulnerable to health problems. It can be hard sticking to a healthy lifestyle, but swapping to Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil couldn’t be easier. I stepped on the scales for the first time in ages and it was quite a shock if I am honest! I am close to toppling into overweight now, so no more butter for me!

Lessen The Risk Of Cancer

Those who follow the Mediterranean diet had a reduced risk of breast cancer. We already use olive oil for cooking. However, for sandwiches I spread butter rather too generously before topping with filler! I will be making a quick change and going to olive oil spread again which I used regularly in the past. I am not sure when the change to butter happened but it crept in without be noticing!!!

Conclusion

Extra Virgin Olive Oil really is a super food you need to add to your diets! What better time too, now it’s a fresh start starting the first month of a New Year. Swapping to olive oil is a simple change to make.