Olives In The Spotlight: Know Nutritional Facts And Health Benefits

Olives belong to the fruit family that yields highly nutritious fruits like mangoes, cherries, peaches, almonds, pistachios. Olives are for everyone, from people who want to lose weight, eat light but interesting or just eat healthily. They can be sliced, used whole, or compressed to make oil. Also, can be used as and in appetizers, main course, side dishes, snacks, salad, topping, dressings, to name a few.
Olives are in the spotlight currently as they have so much to offer. They are a prominent ingredient in Mediterranean dishes and the most common olives we can see are black and green. The reasons they are so liked by everyone are their nutrition facts, health benefits, less cooking time and of course taste.

Nutritional Facts:

• Calories- 115 kcal
• Protein- 0.8g
• Fats- 11g
• Carbs- 6.3g
• Sugar- 0g
• Fiber- 3.2g
• Water- 80%

Health Benefits:

• Olives are high in antioxidants, hence can help build immunity, lower bad cholesterol levels, and fight against some cancers.
• They are rich in vitamin E that enhances skin and hair health.
• They are a good source of monounsaturated fats and studies have shown that olive oil may reduce the risk of heart diseases and lower the risk of brain-related diseases like Alzheimer’s.
• Olives contain a certain chemical called Polyphenol that reduces stress in the brain.
• They are known to regulate blood sugar levels and help in preventing type-2 diabetes.
• Olives are also known to be rich sources of iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin A, copper.
• They can reduce inflammation in the body like in the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• They are low in calories and have no sugar, so they can be a good snack option with no guilt.

Olives can be used in a variety of dishes like we can pickle them, make their dip, cut and slice them to add on spaghetti, salad, pasta, or pizza. But they are enjoyable when they are processed as raw olives taste bitter. They are also eaten dried, to make them more interesting just dip them in cheese. Olive oil is a safer and healthier option for many of us today, especially extra-virgin olive oil. Fill the olives with some cheese, pepper, toss them into herbs and oil, and oh that tangy flavor will leave you mesmerizing its taste forever!

Footnote:
Olives are good sources of fiber, probiotics and give you beautiful skin and hair, so toss them into your spaghetti or have them whole, whatever your preference is, they will surely benefit you. Just keep the position size in check!