Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Olive Oil (Extra Virgin, Pure, Unrefined)

One interesting study on women found that supplementing the diet with 3 tablespoons of olive oil daily was more effective for losing weight than a low-fat diet. (30)

One clinical trial involving 41 obese women found that taking 25 ml of olive oil at breakfast time helped to lose weight on an energy-restricted diet program. The scientists observed that consuming extra virgin olive oil helped to reduce body fat. (31)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Helps Prevent Age-Related Brain Disorders

Several studies have shown that olive oil can affect the brain and reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This disease is one of the most studied diseases and a significant cause of dementia in the elderly.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, which is a brain condition that leads to a decline in an individual’s memory, thinking and reasoning abilities.

In a study published in PLOS One journal, mice with Alzheimer’s disease were given oleuropein aglycone, the main polyphenol found in extra virgin olive oil, for 8 weeks. The results showed a significant improvement in the cognitive performance of the mice compared to the group that did not receive the olive oil polyphenol. (44)

The scientists also conducted memory performance tests and noted that in the mouse model, cognitive impairment was completely prevented by oleuropein aglycone administration to the mice.

Another research by the Geriatric Research Educational and Clinical Center, examined the effects of extra virgin olive oil on learning and memory in mice having brain oxidative damage for 6 weeks. The findings suggest that extra virgin olive oil has beneficial effects on learning and memory deficits found in aged people and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. (45)

The anti-inflammatory effect of olive oil antioxidants also promotes good brain health and prevent age-related cognitive dysfunction. (46)

One trial on mice found that taking extra virgin olive oil increases levels of glutathione in the brain. This is one of the most important antioxidants in the body. The effects of increased glutathione levels boosted learning potential and lowered memory deficits. (32)

In another study from 2017 conducted on mice, the researchers discovered that drinking extra-virgin olive oil protects memory and learning ability, and protects the brain against Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. (33)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is Good for Your Skin

Extra virgin olive oil contains many antioxidants and other compounds that really help to improve the appearance of your skin.

Research has revealed that healthy fats like olive oil are necessary to protect the structure of your skin. Fatty acids like oleic acid help to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and other effects of photoaging. Consuming extra virgin olive oil can help to protect your skin from DNA damage. (34)

Extra virgin olive oil is also a great way to moisturize and nourish your skin naturally. In fact, the antibacterial properties of EVOO are strong enough to heal outbreaks of eczema on your skin. (35)

Virgin Olive Oil is Good for Your Hair and Scalp

You can also use olive oil to improve the condition of your scalp and get shiny, beautiful-looking hair.

Olive oil, along with other natural ingredients, can help to get rid of dandruff and be used as a hair conditioner.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is Good for Treating Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Because olive oil is anti-inflammatory, supplementing your diet with a tablespoon or two a day can help to relieve joint pain and inflammation.

The journal Nutrition reported that ingesting fish oil along with olive oil can help to relieve rheumatoid arthritis pain. The most effective dose was 3 grams a day of omega-3 fatty acids and 9.6 ml of olive oil. (36)

The reason that extra virgin olive oil is good for treating arthritis is that it helps to inhibit enzymes in the body that are connected with inflammation. (37)

Also, oleocanthal in extra virgin olive oil can help to protect against the effects of many inflammatory conditions, including osteoarthritis. (38)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Drops Can Help Remove Earwax and Treat Ear Infections

A few drops of warm olive oil can be the best way to dissolve earwax and prevent infections in your outer or middle ear.

The publication Informed Health Online says that a warm olive oil is a safe and natural way to soften earwax and remove it from your ear. (39)

Other studies have shown that pure olive oil can help to treat painful middle ear infections. (40)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Has Anticancer Properties

One of the benefits of olive oil is that it protects against skin, colon and breast cancer. A number of research studies have documented that eating a healthy diet with olive oil as the main source of fat could considerably lower cancer incidence.

This beneficial effect could be attributed to oleic acid, the predominant monounsaturated fatty acid in olive oil. However, it is not excluded that other substances of olive oil, such as antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols and squalene may also have a positive influence. Squalene is believed to have a favorable effect on the skin by reducing the incidence of melanomas.

Olive Oil and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, and it kills more women than any other type of cancer, other than lung cancer.

There are a number of scientific reports and studies that explain how olive oil can help you to reduce the risks associated with breast cancer.

The European Study – Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Breast Cancer

A study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention reported that individuals who lived in the Mediterranean basin had reduced risks in terms of developing degenerative diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. (47)

The researchers concluded that olives and olive oil may be one of the reasons why these individuals had reduced risks. Olive oil and olives are abundant in antioxidants, lignans (which are also found in flaxseeds), and other compounds that can reduce the risk factors associated with developing cancer.

The Spanish Study – Olive Oil and Tumor Cells

A study done at the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain further explained how olive oil can help to reduce your risk of developing cancer.

In the study, the scientists managed to show that olive oil targets cancer cells and they proved that the consumption of extra virgin olive oil reduced the malignancy of the tumors. (48)

The Greek Study – the Mediterranean Diet and Breast Cancer

Scientists in Greece studied approximately 15,000 women for ten years in Greece. They reviewed the dietary habits of these women, giving their diets a score between 0 and 9 depending on how close their diets were to a traditional Mediterranean diet. (49)

This study concluded that post-menopausal women who adhered to the olive oil rich Mediterranean diet had reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by 22%. The diet did not seem to reduce the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women, but there is a lower incidence of breast cancer in Mediterranean countries.

Olive Oil and Brain Cancer