Olives contain all vitamins and trace elements necessary for human health. They contain sugar, proteins, pectin, vitamin B and vitamin C, carotene.
Olives have a good effect on the functions of the digestive tract and the liver. They stimulate the growth of bone tissue and are used for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diseases of the digestive system.
Olive oil, which is produced from olives, consists of eighty percent monounsaturated fatty acids, which reduce harmful cholesterol in the blood.
Olives also contain vitamin E and polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants. Olive oil prevents rapid aging of the body and reduces the risk of developing many diseases.
Olives are part of the Mediterranean diet. It is a combination of lifestyle and diet that is typical of the people of the Mediterranean region.
The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have radically changed the system of dietary recommendations in Western countries. Nowadays it is considered a perfectly balanced healthy nutrition system.
The concept of the Mediterranean diet was formulated when it was found that in the Mediterranean region the mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases is much lower than in northern European countries.
The main thing that distinguished the diet of the Mediterranean peoples from that of the others was the abundance of salads with olive oil and olives, as well as the consumption of many fruits and vegetables.
Olive oil is a major component of most Mediterranean dishes. Thanks to its gastronomic possibilities and health-promoting properties, olive oil is a key component in the adaptation of the Mediterranean diet to the nutrition of other people.
The Mediterranean diet calls for reducing red meat to three to four times a month. The consumption of fish, chicken, duck and eggs are recommended several times a week.
The consumption of olives, fruit, salad from leafy vegetables, nuts, pasta, corn flour, potatoes, fresh vegetables, milk and dairy products is recommended.
