Discovering a Budget-Friendly Substitute for Olive Oil
Olive oil, or the Spanish ‘liquid gold,’ is a staple ingredient in the Spanish Mediterranean diet, renowned for its myriad health benefits. Beyond its culinary prowess, olive oil boasts the potential to positively impact health in numerous ways, even regulating intestinal bacteria functions, as recent research from the Universities of Jaén and Granada suggests.
Despite its virtues, olive oil prices have steadily climbed over the past year. While many consumers still scour Spanish supermarkets for the cheapest olive oil bottle, a recent study published in the European Journal of Nutrition Nutrients and Food has unveiled a more economically viable and nutritionally beneficial alternative.
Expert-Recommended Alternative to Olive Oil
This alternative, recently studied by experts, involves another type of oil less commonly used in Spain.
Recommended by: United States is Open: Immigrate with an Easy Form United States is Open: Immigrate with an Easy Form GCLExperts An oil perhaps less familiar in Spain but much cheaper than Spanish extra virgin olive oil. Yet, its price isn’t the only appealing aspect; its true value lies in its nutritional and health benefits.
[This is the Salmon Substitute in Spain to Ward Off Brain Aging After 50]
This alternative oil is derived from the residual production of conventional olive oils and has been hailed among the highest-quality vegetable varieties nutritionally, according to research conducted by the Institute of Food Science and Technology (ICTAN) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), also promoted by the Olive Pomace Oil Interprofessional (ORIVA).
Olive Pomace Oil: A Powerful Ally Against Cholesterol
This study spanned four years and involved 132 volunteers. All participants reduced their daily fat intake to 45 grams and limited other dietary sources rich in monounsaturated fats, such as nuts, olives, or avocados.
The results revealed that olive pomace oil not only lowers cholesterol levels and insulin resistance but also provides significant benefits for cardiometabolic health, showing positive potential in conditions like diabetes and obesity.
[The New Yogurt Substitute Ruling Mercadona: Loaded with Probiotics and Proteins]
These findings suggest that olive pomace oil could be an affordable and healthy alternative to traditional olive oil, offering promising results in combating cardiovascular diseases and improving blood lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol) levels.
An Ally Against Alzheimer’s Too
According to a study from the CSIC’s Institute of Fat, there’s evidence that the bioactive compounds present in olive pomace oil may have a potential protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.
[This Is What Happens to Spaniards Who Take Magnesium Daily, According to Experts]
This is related to microglia, cells derived from bone marrow and present in all regions of the central nervous system. They tend to promote neurodegeneration when inflamed, linking them to Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s precisely the compounds found in olive pomace oil, such as oleanolic acid, tocopherol, and sitosterol, that could mitigate the activation of these cells and reduce associated inflammation. However, it’s crucial to note that these effects haven’t been studied in humans yet, but they remain promising regarding their benefits.
Still, olive pomace oil consumption in Spain remains below 15%, despite being associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and heart-healthy effects, as well as obesity prevention.
