Olive oil, known as a moist and healthy golden liquid, is not only an indispensable condiment for delicious dishes, but also a unique nourishment for human health. It is rich in nutritional value, helps cardiovascular health, promotes metabolism and aids digestion, and can also reduce the risk of cancer death.
The development history of olive oil
The history of olive oil can be traced back to around 3500 BC, when olive trees began to be cultivated on the island of Crete in the eastern Mediterranean. Subsequently, the cultivation of olive trees gradually spread to Italy, France and Spain on the northern and western coasts of the Mediterranean. In the 9th century BC, the Phoenicians brought olive tree species to Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and other countries on the southern coast of the Mediterranean.
By 400 BC, Greece had become a major exporter of olive oil, including countries on the west coast of the Mediterranean. In the 3rd century AD when the Roman Empire was at its peak, olive trees had become a commonly planted tree throughout the Mediterranean. In 100 AD, the Romans developed methods for pickling flavored olives and processing olive oil, making olive oil the main edible oil.
In 1503, Spanish explorers brought olive tree cultivation to America. In 1785, missionaries brought olive trees to the United States. In the 1920s, European immigrants incorporated olive oil into American cooking. In 1964, China introduced olive seedlings from Albania and began a large-scale olive development project in China.
Olive oil not only has a long history, but also has profound connotations. In ancient Rome, olive oil was regarded as a symbol of nobility, and its users were all people with prominent social status. The United Nations emblem contains the element of an olive branch, which means striving for world peace. Today, olive oil has become a healthy food around the world. Its history is a microcosm of the history of human civilization, witnessing our past and heralding our healthier future.
What are the benefits of olive oil to human health?
The research team systematically evaluated the relationship between total olive oil consumption and total and cause-specific mortality among men and women in the United States, a country with low per capita olive oil consumption. get conclusion
Compared with people who never or rarely consumed olive oil, people who consumed more than 7 grams of olive oil per day had a 19% lower death rate from total cardiovascular disease, a 17% lower death rate from cancer, and a 17% lower death rate from neurodegenerative diseases. The risk of mortality was reduced by 29% and respiratory mortality was reduced by 18%.
Replacing about 10 grams of margarine, butter, mayonnaise and butterfat per day with the same amount of olive oil also significantly reduced the risk of death.
Other benefits of olive oil:
In addition to reducing cancer mortality, olives also have the following benefits:
- Helps in the growth and development of babies Based on its composition and digestibility, olive oil is the most suitable oil for babies. The ratio of linolenic acid and linoleic acid in the nutrients of olive oil, which cannot be synthesized by the human body, is similar to that of breast milk and is easily absorbed. It can promote the growth and development of children’s nervous system, bones and brain.
- Helps heart health Among all vegetable oils, olive oil is the most beneficial to the heart. Olive oil is different from other vegetable oils in that it only lowers “bad” cholesterol and increases “good” cholesterol. At the same time, it can also prevent atherosclerosis, regulate blood lipids, lower blood pressure and blood viscosity, prevent the formation of thrombosis, protect the heart from coronary heart disease, and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.
- Helps skin beautification. Olive oil is rich in squalene and essential fatty acids that have excellent affinity with the skin. It is absorbed quickly and can effectively maintain skin elasticity and moisture. The antioxidants contained in olive oil can eliminate free radicals in the body and restore the human body. The healthy state of the internal organs can prevent brain aging and prolong life. In addition, olive oil can also eliminate facial wrinkles, have skin care and hair care, and prevent and treat cracked hands and feet. It is a beauty and skin care product that can be “eaten”.
- Helps digestion and promotes metabolism. Olive oil is rich in a variety of rich elements, and the human body’s absorption rate of these nutrients is also very high. It can reduce gastric acid and prevent the occurrence of gastritis and duodenal ulcers.
- It also has the function of moisturizing the intestines, and long-term consumption can effectively relieve constipation. Olive oil contains more than 80% monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. When the human body consumes an appropriate proportion of fatty acids, metabolism will be more normal, and the probability of obesity and diabetes will be reduced. Therefore, olive oil can improve the metabolic function of organisms
How to seal olive oil to prevent it from spoiling?
To ensure the freshness and quality of your olive oil, sealing is a crucial step. Different sealing materials have different effects on the preservation of olive oil:
- Glass Bottle Sealing: Glass bottles have great oxygen and light shielding properties, helping to protect your olive oil from oxidation and the effects of light. In addition, glass does not interfere with the taste of olive oil and is more conducive to maintaining its original flavor.
- Stainless steel can sealing: Stainless steel cans have better sealing and antioxidant properties, and are also an effective choice for maintaining the freshness of olive oil.
- Plastic bottle seal: Although plastic bottles are light and easy to carry, due to their high light transmittance, olive oil may be easily oxidized by light. Choosing dark-colored plastic bottles can alleviate this problem to some extent.
Summarize
Taken together, olive oil has become a highly respected high-quality product packaging material due to its rich nutrition, multiple health benefits and long history of development. Through scientific sealing measures, we can ensure the quality and freshness of olive oil, thus providing more protection for human health.