45 AMAZING OLIVE OIL
BENEFITS FOR HEALTH, HAIR, SKIN AND OTHER THINGS
According to legend, the olive tree was given to human beings as a gift from the goddess Athena. Sometimes referred to as the ‘liquid gold, olive oil, as no doubt you know, can be used extensively in cooking and food preparation and has for centuries been recognized, as being very beneficial for health. This wonderful, flavorsome oil has in fact, some amazing health benefits. It can reduce the risk of cancers, help control diabetes and reduce cholesterol, to name but a few benefits, and it also has many practical uses as well. The next time you put some olive oil over a salad, think about the thousands of other different uses that it can be used for and here are our favorite 45 amazing benefits and uses of olive oil:
1. An alternative to soap
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Romans and Greeks didn’t have any soap. Instead, they used olive oil to clean their skin and even today, many people still use this method, instead of using soap. Just massage the oil into your skin and then take it off with a warm, wet washcloth.
2. Lowers blood pressure
Even though researchers are unsure why, olive oil has been proven to reduce blood pressure and is beneficial to those suffering from hypertension.
3. Helps fight breast cancer
Olive oil contains a substance known as phytochemicals, and studies have shown that these can be effective both in killing cancerous cells and suppressing the genes that are responsible for the onset of cancer.
4. An all-round beauty treatment
Olive oil benefits are almost countless. Some women accredit olive oil, as being the mainstay of their overall beauty regime. Hollywood siren, Sophia Loren consumes olive oil daily, uses it on her hair and skin, and puts it in her bath too.
5. Lowers the risk of developing coronary heart disease
A diet that is rich in olive oil will greatly reduce the risk of heart disease. A study carried out in Italy found that those who ate more olive oil, along with plenty of leafy vegetables had markedly reduced rates of heart disease.
6. Reduces the risk of stroke
Taking two tablespoons of olive oil every day will increase the elasticity in your arteries and so, will make you less susceptible to strokes and heart attacks.
7. Reduces the appearance of stretch marks
Olive oil benefits include reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Massaging olive oil into your skin during pregnancy will make your skin more elastic and so, reduce the risks of you developing stretch marks. You can also use it after the birth to help lighten any stretch marks that have occurred.
8. Use as a carrier for essential oils
Essential oils are usually too strong to be used on their own, but olive oil makes the perfect carrier oil, when you do use them.
9. Create your own lip gloss
You can create your own lip gloss using olive oil; just mix some olive oil with a natural pigment/color of your choice and add beeswax. Your natural lip gloss is ready!
10. Brings a gleam to household appliances
Olive oil makes a great polish around the home. Apply to faucets, appliances, stainless steel and laminate surfaces and polish off for a bright and shiny finish.
11. Use as an alternative to mascara
You can get big and beautiful eyes without mascara, which can make some people’s eyes itch. Apply some olive oil with a mascara brush instead and it will give you long and shiny lashes without any of the allergies.
12. Olive oil bath
For a wonderful relaxing experience add some olive oil to your bathtub, add a couple of drops of rose essential oil and a handful of rose petals for a touch of luxury; after such a bath your skin will really thank you.
13. Removes paint, tar and tree sap
If you get some sticky tar, sap or paint on your hands, then rubbing with a little olive oil will gently remove it, without the need for any harsh scrubbing.
14. Protects your red blood cells
Over time, your blood cells oxidize, which is one of the common causes of the signs of aging. There is a special type of polyphenol found in olive oil that protects your red blood cells from oxidation, which will keep you younger for longer and help protect your heart, so don’t forget to add olive oil to your salads.
15. Use as a night cream
If you have very dry skin, then olive oil will make a great night cream for you. Just apply a small amount of olive oil to your face at bedtime and you will wake up with smooth and supple skin in the morning.
16. Reduces the signs of aging
The list of olive oil benefits wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that it can reduce signs of aging. Olive oil contains both antioxidants and vitamin E, which makes it a superb anti-aging treatment. To maintain your youthful glow, apply olive oil to your skin daily and it will help keep the wrinkles away.
17. Helps to improve your memory
Research has suggested that people who consume olive oil regularly are less likely to suffer from memory loss, when they get older. It has even been suggested that olive oil can reverse some of the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
18. Make butter healthier
If you love the taste of butter, but don’t want all the bad fat that it contains, then mix one part butter with one part olive oil for a healthier spread to put on your bread.
19. Reduces cholesterol
Olive oil is definitely heart friendly, so replacing other saturated fats with olive oil will improve your metabolism and help to reduce your cholesterol levels.
20. Olive oil could save the world!
Great news for lovers of Italian food; The World Health Organization recommends that everyone in the world adopts a Mediterranean style diet, because olive oil is the healthiest source of fat that there is.
21. Use instead of lip balm
If you have chapped and sore lips, then try olive oil instead of your usual lip balm. The oil is quickly absorbed by the skin, so it will moisturize your lips quickly and help protect them all day long.
22. Helps heal skin irritations
Apply olive oil directly to sunburn and other skin irritations, and its natural regenerative properties and vitamin E will help speed up the healing process, as well as soothe the pain.
23. Keeps you fitter for longer
A diet rich in olive oil, like the Mediterranean diet, has been proven in research to keep people healthy into their old age.
24. Prevents your skin from sagging
As you get older, your skin begins to lose its elasticity, which is the cause of sagging and wrinkles. Olive oil contains squalene, which helps to improve the elasticity of your skin and so will keep it firm and toned for longer.
25. Treats dry, rough feet
You can make a great foot scrub by mixing one part olive oil with one part honey and mixing in a little sugar. Massaging the mixture into your feet will help remove dead skin and soften and moisturise your feet as well.
26. Improve your singing voice!
Although there is no scientific evidence for this one, professional opera singers have been gargling with olive oil before performances for centuries, as it is said to protect the throat and lubricate the voice.
27. Use as an exfoliator
For an inexpensive and natural exfoliator, just mix olive oil with some salt or sugar, and away you go. A fraction of the cost of commercial exfoliating treatments and it does exactly the same job.
28. Use olive oil in face masks
Mix olive oil with mashed banana or avocado and use it as a homemade face mask, by applying it for 5-10 minutes and then wash off; the mask will nourish and rejuvenate your skin, making it soft and smooth.
29. Conditions your hair
Your hair can also experience wonderful olive oil benefits. Olive oil has been used as a natural hair conditioner for centuries. From Cleopatra to Sophia Loren, beautiful women around the world and throughout history have used the oil to nourish and strength their hair.
30. A natural skin moisturizer
Olive oil is one of the most wonderful natural skin moisturizers. Use as a hand cream or a face and body moisturizer and it will soon bring back the softness to your skin.
31. It only contains good fat
Olive oil contains different dietary fats in precisely the same ratio that human beings need, which is part of the reason that the oil is so good for you.
32. Use as a makeup remover
Apply some olive oil to cotton wool, wet it a little with warm water and use it to remove your makeup, and even your eye makeup. It’s safe, it’s natural and it will help to moisturize your skin too.
33. Make hair products last longer
You can combine all the benefits of olive oil with those of your regular hair products by combining the two together. It will help products to spread more evenly through your hair and make your product last longer as well.
34. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is a natural part of the body’s defense system, but it can be painful! Extra virgin olive oil contains oleocanthal, which is an anti-inflammatory compound that can help to reduce redness and soreness.
35. Eases tickly coughs
When you get a dry, tickly cough, you can ease the irritation with a teaspoon of olive oil.
36. Removes chewing gum
If you find gum stuck fast to a non-porous surface like a floor or even on if you get some on your skin, rub a little olive oil into it and it will soften the gum and make it easier to remove.
37. It will keep wooden utensils looking as good, as new
Wooden chopping boards, bows and other utensils can become dull and scratched over time. Rubbing some olive oil into them will bring back the natural beauty of the wood and help to reduce the appearance of scratches.
38. Waterproofs leather
If you rub some olive oil onto leather boots, it will keep out the rain. It can also be used to waterproof other leather items like belts and baseball gloves.
39. Treats bad breath
Had a heavy garlic night? A teaspoon of olive oil with a little lemon juice mixed in, first thing in the morning, will help clear up your bad breath.
40. All in one hand and nail treatment
Not only will olive oil can moisturize your hands, but it will also nourish and strengthen your nails and, if you massage it into your cuticles, it will keep them moist and soft too. An all in one nail and had care treatment.
41. Remove nicotine stains from your fingers and nails
Just rub some olive oil to your hands and it will help remove nicotine stains from your fingers and nails.
42. Bye bye cellulite
Olive oil benefits can also help you fight cellulite. Mix olive oil with coffee grounds from your morning coffee and massage the areas of your body affected by cellulite; if you do it regularly, soon you will see wonderful results!
43. Wonderful massage oil
You can use olive oil as a massage oil, just add a couple of drops of essential oil of your choice and enjoy wonderful spa treatment in the comfort of your own home.
44. Olive oil shave
Use olive oil instead of shaving cream and enjoy close shave and smooth, soft skin.
45. Tames the frizz
When you wake up and find it’s going to be a bad hair day, try applying a little olive oil on your hair before combing (a small amount goes a long way) and it will quickly tame dry and frizzy hairs.
What other olive oil benefits do you want to add to this list? Feel free to share your tips in the comment section.
Stay happy!
