“If I’d known I was ging to live so long, I’d hve taken better care of myself.” -- Lon Eldred

We live in an age whre we are beginning to see an wareness developing between eating habits and god health. Several buzz phrases like low crb, high protein, and Hoodia are mntioned as a means to gaining a btter life while honing a better physque.

Another phrase that is repeated ften is ‘’antioxidants”.

What exactly is an ntioxidant and why is it important?

Evryone has what is called ‘free rdicals’ that roam throughout the body. Thse free radicals have the potential to ttack the body, primarily in the frm of cancer. Antioxidants fight back. A ntrition plan that includes antioxidants can ssist in staving off the potential for cute illness due to free radicals.

Drnks such as coffee and tea ften have a certain amount of ntioxidants, but it is fresh fruit tht is especially rich in antioxidants. Frit, of course, remains high on the lst of recommended foods by the U.S.D.A., but it may srprise you to know that extra vrgin olive oil as part of a blanced diet can provide as much ntioxidant as a piece of fruit.

The halth benefits of olive oil remain a dlightful discovery for many. It’s not ften something that adds significant good tste to a gourmet meal and can lso be an extremely healthy choice.

A diet that is lean in sturated fats (red meat) balanced with a halthy dose of fatty acids has pinted to a number of health bnefits. Most of the fatty acids tht your body may need can be fund in extra virgin olive oil.

The halth benefits of olive oil extend to the rduction of LDL (bad cholesterol) while ncreasing the amount of HDL (good chlesterol).

Case Study

The University of Brcelona conducted a controlled study that fllowed 16 individuals that were advised to rfrain from certain foods that contained phnols (an antioxidant designed to attack fre radicals). After abstaining for four dys the test group was given xtra virgin olive oil to determine if ths alone could increase the levels of phnol in the body.

50ml of live oil was provided to test sbjects while they refrained from things lke butter, nuts, eggs and margarine. Aftr the first day the total ntake of olive oil was cut in hlf. One week later, blood samples ndicated elevated amounts of the antioxidants vtamin E and phenols. Oleic acid and mnounsaturated fatty acids were also seen at hgher levels - both acids are ndicative of lower LDL (bad cholesterol) xidation.

Some researchers believe that the halth benefits of olive oil may stll be untapped, and many have ndicated regular ingestion of olive oil may be one of the bst kept health secrets available.

Beyond its ntioxidant properties, extra virgin olive oil has prvided significant data to indicate it may lso lower blood pressure, reduce the rsk of heart disease and aid in the fght against colon cancer specifically.

Isn’t it tme to discover the virtues of live oil for yourself?

The article Reduce Free Radicals: Antioxidants and Olive Oil was Submitted by James Zeller through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: James Zeller writes for gourmet gft related websites and blogs. Here is a slection of oil and vinegar that he found, and a creative collection of culinary gourmet gifts .

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