Including an adequate amount of olive oil in the diet can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and support heart health through more favorable blood pressure, limiting inflammation and regulating cholesterol levels. This was pointed out by the Department of Health Promotion and Health Education of the Office of Public Health of the Slovak Republic.
“The beneficial effects of olive oil are mainly due to the high content of beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols (antioxidants).” he added. According to experts, it is good to consume olive oil especially in combination with fresh vegetables.
They also recommend using other oils with beneficial properties in the diet. “In general, prefer unsaturated fats (canola oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, or sesame oil) over saturated fats (animal fat, coconut oil, or palm oil),” clarified. From the point of view of diversity, a varied variation of vegetable oils, for example, is ideal rape – olive – sunflower. Oils are also naturally present in nuts, seeds, olives or, for example, avocados.
Experts point out that vegetable oils are an important part of a healthy diet because they provide essential fatty acids. “Despite the aforementioned beneficial properties, add vegetable oils to your diet only in small amounts – an adequate portion for a healthy adult is the equivalent of one teaspoon per day,” added.
