If there is one staple item that every kitchen must have, it should be olive oil. Whether you are preparing a simple salad or cooking up a complicated dish, olive oil can be used. Aside from providing a great amount of flavor to your food, olive oil is also a healthier alternative to regular cooking oil.
There are several kinds of olive oil that you can choose from. There’s extra virgin olive oil which is the least processed variant, virgin olive oil, pure olive oil and the extra light olive oil which is processed so that very little of the flavor is left.
As for the health benefits, olive oil is never lacking in this department because it is an excellent source of vitamin E. This type of oil also contains antioxidants which helps boost the body’s immune system. More importantly, olive oil can be considered as a source of healthy monounsaturated fats, which in turn lowers the bad cholesterol, making it a heart-friendly alternative to regular cooking oil. Finally, olive oil helps lower the risks of colon cancer, gastritis and ulcer.
Since olive oil also contains a significant amount of calories, they should be used in moderation. However, with all the health benefits provided by olive oil, it is definitely something that you should have in our kitchen.