Uses of Olive Oil

Olive oil demystified
Wed, Mar 3 07:21 PM
There's more to olive oil than just its exotic taste. How it's good for your health and the kinds available.
Extra virgin
Everyone says it's the best. Extra Virgin is the most healthy and best in aroma and flavour, but not the best for cooking. The truth is that heat destroys its health-promoting properties. A pocket-pincher, the taste, texture and nutritional profile are richer if used on raw or already-prepared food.
Pure olive
Contrary to its name, pure olive oil is actually a combination of refined and virgin olive oils. It's an intermediate grade oil with medium aroma and flavour (and it's medium priced too). Paler in colour, it's best-suited for pan and deep-frying, stir frying, sautes and stews. But it's not best for cooking Indian dishes.
Olive pomace oil
This variety is used as the main cooking oil all over Italy, Spain and the Mediterranean. A light neutral oil, it doesn't change the taste of any dish. It's obtained by applying heat, solvents or hot water to the paste that's left after higher grades of oil have been extracted. All that processing removes many of the health benefits and hence it's considered low quality compared to Extra Virgin, but it has a higher smoke point and is best suited to Indian cuisine.
Spoonful of health
Heart
Helps prevent arteriosclerosis (thickening of artery walls) and coronary diseases by dilating arterial blood vessels.
Digestive Tract
Improves digestive processes in the stomach and pancreas, and regulates the level of bile secretion.
Skin
Protective health effect that improves skin tone and helps delay cellular ageing throughout the whole body.
Endocrine System
Improves metabolic system. Enhances sensitivity to insulin, lowers blood sugar, and helps reduce and maintain weight.
Skeleton
Increases bone growth by stimulating the absorption of calcium.
Raises good cholesterol (HDL) and reduces LDL or bad cholesterol.
A natural storehouse for Vitamins A, D, E and K.
High on polyphenols and antioxidants that protect body cells from 'free radicals'.
Reproduced From India Today. © 2010. LMIL. All rights reserved.