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If you have been cooking with olive oil, you may not realize how you have been protecting your health. Many people do not realize that there are more benefits to the use of this rich and delicious oil than simply making your food taste good. There are a number of different ways that you can use the oil from pressed olives to maintain your health and your looks as well.

You may have seen that there are different grades and varieties of oil on the market. The oil can be classified as extra virgin, virgin or simply olive oil. This refers to how many times the olives have been pressed and the makeup of the oil as well. Basically, extra virgin or virgin oils have the highest levels of beneficial compounds because they have been handled or processed the least.

If you are interested in finding the most beneficial oil, look for oil which is extra virgin and which is cold pressed. By pressing the olives without heat the oil has not lost any of its nutritional value. It also has the most pure taste of any oils on the market and this makes it extremely desirable to cooks. One interesting thing that you can do to experience olive oil fully is to taste test oils from different areas of the world. You will quickly see that they vary quite a bit from region to region.

Often, it is recommended that you use extra virgin or virgin oil in dishes where it will not be hidden or altered excessively. Everyone has seen bowls of oil and balsamic that diners can dip their bread into. This can be a delicious and healthy alternative to the use of butter or margarine at the dinner table.

The number of different compounds that can benefit our health is impressive. Olive oil contains antioxidants and nutrients such as vitamins A and K. The vitamin E that is in this oil is a powerful natural antioxidant that can heal damage done by free radicals. These are molecules which form when certain elements oxidize. They destabilize cells by stealing electrons and this can damage the cells profoundly. There are also polyphenols and other compounds which have a direct beneficial impact on the cardiovascular health of the body as well. Researchers have also been able to make direct links between use of olive oil in the diet and lower incidents of certain cancers.

Using olive oil in ways other than the diet is quite easy. You can use it in soaps, moisturizers and skin creams. It is an excellent treatment for dry skin or hair as well and can be applied directly. You simply wait for the product to be absorbed and then wash off any excess. It is much less likely to irritate sensitive skin or cause breakouts on oily skin because it is so gentle and natural. The antioxidants can be absorbed into the system through the skin and help to heal the body in this way as well.

Storing oil is not hard if you take a few preventative steps. You want to make sure that your oil is protected from heat and the air. This can cause the oil to oxidize and many of the beneficial compounds can be destroyed. If you store it in an opaque container you can find that your oil will last for at least a year or even more. This can help you offset the cost of good oil because you can buy it in a larger quantity than you may purchase other oils.

Although you may be surprised by the complexity of flavour you find in many olive oils, you will quickly come to appreciate the flavour and health benefits it can give you. Once you have found an oil you love you may not want to cook with anything else.

Did you know that you can use olive oils for maintaining good health? There is a large variety of different products for beauty that contain olive oil. You not only eat it, but you can also place it on your hair and skin.