For Consumption
Mediterranean cuisine specifically uses olive oil for cooking which gives it a distinct flavour and aroma. But it is not just the taste which draws them to this liquid gold but also its amazing health benefits.
Benefits
● It has antioxidants which work to reduce the effect of free radicals that are responsible for lots of health issues.
● It is known to prevent various cancers including breast cancer.
● Helps to keep brain and nervous tissues healthy.
● Its anti-inflammatory properties fight to prevent conditions like dermatitis, pollen allergy etc.
● It has monosaturated fats which help to keep your arteries healthy
● It is free of cholesterol, thus preventing many lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.
● Vitamin E and K present in it help to increase your immunity and improve bone density respectively.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
With a beautiful golden-green colour, this gleaming cold-pressed oil is the purest and healthiest form of olive oil. It has a very distinct aroma and a nutty bitter taste. Virgin and extra virgin olive oils must only be consumed in their raw form as heating them can destroy their nutrients.
Uses
● Salad- Use it to make salad dressing mixed with some lemon juice or vinegar, salt and black pepper, and crushed garlic (optional).
● Dips- Add some to hummus and use this mixture as dips for crackers, bread sticks, chips etc.
● Sandwiches- You can make the pesto by combining it with pine nuts or walnuts, garlic, lemon juice and fresh basil leaves, and use this mixture in sandwiches.
● Sauteed Vegetables- Drizzle some of it on steamed or sauteed vegetables.
Pomace Olive Oil
It offers you the same nutritional value which you get from its virgin counterpart, but with the liberty of cooking. Pomace olive oil is refined olive oil thus you can use it to cook your food. It has a high smoking point which means its nutrients won’t get destroyed due to heat.
Uses
● Baking- As it is a flavourless oil you can use it in place of butter to bake cakes and cookies too.
● Frying- Since it has a high smoking point, you can fry all kinds of food like poories or french fries.
● Curries- Because it doesn’t alter the taste or colour of the food, you can very well use it to cook your favourite Indian curries too.
For Topical Application
Olive oil has tons of benefits for the skin and hair too. You can use them in your everyday self-care routine to combat many common hair and skin problems. And the best part is, since it is all-natural, you would be avoiding harmful chemicals.
Olive Hair Oil
There are many good hair oils available in the market, but they cannot beat olive hair oil.
Benefits
● Gives you a healthier and fuller mane.
● Makes your hair strong and reduces hair fall.
● Prevents itching of the scalp and checks dandruff.
● Makes your hair frizz-free and manageable.
Uses
● Scalp Massage- You can take 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil in a bowl, warm it up a little and then gently massage your scalp with it.
● Condition- Add a few drops of it in any conditioner and apply after shampooing wet hair. Leave it on for 2 minutes then rinse.
● Hair Mask- You can combine olive oil with various different ingredients like honey, eggs, banana, aloe vera gel or milk to make a potent hair mask suitable for your hair type.
Virgin Olive Oil for Skin
Virgin olive oil is one of the best olive oil products in India as you can not only consume it for nourishment from within but also use it to nourish your facial skin topically.
Benefits
● Adds a healthy glow to dull skin.
● Smoothes out fine lines and reduces signs of ageing.
● Hydrates and heals dry and damaged skin.
Uses
● Cleanser- Use a teaspoon of olive oil to massage your skin so that it dissolves all dirt, pollutants, and makeup. Now clean this off using a warm and damp washcloth.
● Scrub- Mix some rice flour or white sugar to form a thick paste. Directly rub it gently on your face in circular motions to slough off dead skin cells and finally clean it with a damp washcloth.
● Face Mask- You can mix olive oil with ingredients like milk and tu
0 comments:
Post a Comment