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I’m an olive oil producer and here are 5 things you should ‘never do’ with the healthy fat
Fat is an important part of our diet and we need to get enough to stay healthy, but it’s important to choose healthy, unsaturated fats like olive oil rather than saturated ones.
Olive oil is full of monosaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) which are great for your health – but not all olive oil is the same. An olive oil producer has shared five things you should ‘never do’ with the fat to ensure you’re getting the best quality and reaping the benefits.
5 things you should ‘never do’ with olive oil
Skyler Mapes is an author and entrepreneur from Oakland, California, who founded EXAU Olive Oil with her Italian husband. They own olive trees in his hometown of Castella in Calabria, a Southern region of Italy right down in the country’s boot-shaped peninsula.
1. Don’t buy olive oil in plastic
Firstly, she said you should never buy olive oil that comes in a plastic bottle, because it degrades the quality of the oil. Plus, it’s also really bad for the environment.
2. Don’t buy olive oil in clear bottles
Keeping with the packaging, you shouldn’t buy olive oil in clear bottles either. It comes in dark glass for a reason, to slow down the oxidation process and stop it from going rancid.
3. Don’t store olive oil in a hot place
Next up, you need to think about where you store your olive oil. Never keep it in a hot place, like next to the stove, as the consistent hot temperature will degrade the oil.
4. Avoid olive oil from multiple countries
If you look on the back of the bottle and there are multiple different countries listed, avoid it because that means it’s made up of many olive mixes and not of as high quality.
5. Stay away from the larger brands
Finally, the olive oil producer recommends staying away from some of the bigger brands, because smaller companies have more control over the trees they are harvesting and farm ethically.
Olive oil has so many health benefits
If you follow all of these rules, you will be getting the best quality olive oil possible, meaning the best possible health benefits too. Olive oil is a big part of the Mediterranean diet, which is widely considered one of the best in the world.
As explained by Harvard Health, olive oil’s monounsaturated fats help to lower your “bad” cholesterol and increase “good” cholesterol. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it protects our cells and reduces inflammation in the body.
On top of that, there are links between olive oil and reducing heart disease, some cancers, and even dementia.
Fats give your body the energy that it needs to work properly, keep your skin and hair healthy and help you absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K too, MedlinePlus reveals. Plus, it fills your fat cells and insulates you to keeps you warm.
