Taking a shot of olive oil right before going to bed is extremely beneficial for the health and has been considered a staple in a healthy diet for ages. You probably are consuming olive oil in your diet but consuming it nightly brings immense benefits you are unaware of.
In this blog post, we noted the importance of consuming extra virgin olive oil before bed and how it improves your organ system. Just a simple addition to your night time ritual can help you tackle numerous digestive issues, support brain functionality, and makes your body free from toxins. Not just that, there is a myriad of advantages of consuming olive oil which you will explore below.
History of Olive Oil
Today, olive oil is considered a vital element in the Mediterranean diet which is considered to be the healthiest diet one could follow for its tremendous positive effects. Not just that, but the consumption of olive oil was popular approximately 4,000 BC ago when Romans and Greeks used to get benefits from the olives. People from the Mediterranean civilization used to grow olive trees and extract their juice which also became a ritual in that classical era. In one of the Greek mythologies, one of their Gods was responsible for the growth of olive trees, and this is how the olive tree was popularized in various religions. Gradually, the popularity of olive oil spread across Hispania, and today, Spain (the new name of Hispania) is considered the largest producer of Olive oil.
Thousands of years ago, olive oil was named as ‘liquid gold’ and used to appear as a logo on ancient coins and a part of the crowns of the winning athletes back then. The popularity of olive oil was not only confined to the diet but also to medicine; it held great value for its consumers. Olive was considered an expensive commodity in various civilizations and was traded like any highly prized asset. In 2012, the Mediterranean diet with olive oil as a vital component was ranked topped by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Types of Olive Oil
Olive oil is beneficial in all of its forms. Not only is it a wonderful ingredient for a healthy lifestyle, but it also helps in home cleaning purposes. Olive oil is available in different forms, including:
Extra-virgin Olive Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil is the most popular type of olive oil that is manufactured through cold pressing and ensures that the naturally occurring content inside the oil is not lost due to high-temperature exposure. Due to retaining its natural aroma and healthy flavors, extra-virgin olive oil is considered the healthiest olive oil on the list. You may add it to salad dressing or seasoning or just drink it directly without mixing it with any other ingredient.
Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil in its unrefined form is called virgin olive oil and contains high acidic content as compared to extra-virgin olive oil. It has a natural aroma and flavors, but its taste is slightly milder. Virgin oil is loaded with healthy fatty acids and helps control cholesterol levels. You can use it for frying or baking purposes, and the regular consumption of virgin olive oil helps reduce chronic inflammation.
Olive Pomace Oil
This type of olive oil is extracted from the residue left after water and oil are taken out of the pressed olives. During the manufacturing process, when the olive is pressed, some residue is left that contains some oil in it. Since the oil is extracted merely from the residue, virgin oil is added to it so that it may contain the powerful traits of olive oil. The use of olive pomace oil is not suggested for cooking purposes but only for high-temperature cooking. It can also be used in furniture polishing and consumed in cosmetic products.
Refined Olive Oil
Refined olive oil contains a minimum amount of virgin olive oil and is extracted from ripened black olives. Due to the low quality of refined olive oil, it is suggested to be used only at high temperatures. It has a slight odor and light color. Refined olive oil has high unsaturated fatty acids and is suitable for high-temperature cooking. Consuming it helps improve digestive and heart functions.
What are the Benefits of Drinking Olive Oil Before Bed
We have seen nutritionists and doctors suggesting using olive oil in your diet due to its nutritional benefits. Consuming extra-virgin olive oil before bedtime is recommended by most doctors, as this is when your body is ready to accept the nutrients from this magical oil. After years of studies, researchers have found how effectively olive oil works on the human body if consumed right before going to bed.
Minimize Cardiovascular Complications
Consuming olive oil at night has proven to be more effective than a low-fat diet as it improves your heart health. For improved results, you need to see your daily consumption of olive oil carefully and should follow a dietary plan as suggested by the dietician. Studies have found that people who drink olive oil at night have fewer risks of heart stroke and a decreased rate of early death. Extra-virgin olive decreases blood cholesterol and controls blood pressure, eventually resulting in better heart functioning.
Treats Insomnia
Consuming olive oil before bedtime is advocated by the fact that it significantly improves sleep and is especially helpful for those who are struggling with insomnia. People who find it harder to sleep due to a fulling sensation in their digestive tract, drinking extra-virgin olive oil can help in reducing the discomfort. If you want to skip a heavy meal before bed, it is recommended to drink one tablespoon of olive oil that is soothing for the body and gives you a quality sleep. People who are sleep-deprived or have sleep interruptions are more likely to catch into depression or anxiety, which affects their quality of life. A high-quality extra-virgin olive oil relaxes muscles, makes your heart feel at peace, and promotes better sleep.
Controls Swelling
If you are a gym freak or suffering through any chronic illness, you must have experienced body inflammation to some extent. Do you know that inflammation is linked to causing heart complications and increased blood pressure? Not just that, inflammation affects your digestive system and makes your gut vulnerable to various kinds of infections. The consumption of good quality olive oil works as an anti-inflammatory due to a naturally occurring compound, oleocanthal, in its composition. Pre-sleep olive oil consumption reduces cellular inflammation and plays a vital role in improving your overall physical health.
Helps in Weight Loss
Your body needs good fatty acids for proper functioning and olive oil is enriched with monounsaturated fatty acids, which increase the amount of fats that is to be burned into energy. Drinking olive oil before bed increases the fat burn and controls the blood insulin level which helps in shedding unnecessary pounds. Moreover, monounsaturated fatty acids stay in the gut for longer, so you do not experience regular spells of hunger and feel fuller. A low-fat diet that contains extra-virgin olive oil keeps your body on track and significantly controls weight gain. Olive oil is not a magical potion for your weight loss but an effective way for replacing your high-fat consumption with a healthy, low-fat diet.
Gives Skin a Natural Boost
If you want to look younger and ditch those weird-looking wrinkles and skin sagging, olive oil contains all the essential skin benefits for you. Since olive oil controls cellular inflammation and boosts collagen production in the body, it can be used to give a natural boost to the skin. Collagen is the most important component of the skin, and the more you have it in your skin, the more strengthen and wrinkle-free the skin will become. However, collagen production decreases with time which results into skin sagginess, wrinkles, and age spots, and in some cases, it results into inflammatory acne. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants which are helpful in treating age signs by protecting your skin against free radicals, reducing acne, enhancing skin elasticity, and eventually promoting more rejuvenated skin. Drinking a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil before bed gives you smooth and glowy skin and keeps away the signs of aging.
Works as an Immunity Booster
The multiple benefits of olive oil are associated with its anti-inflammatory properties. Olive oil being an excellent anti-inflammatory product, flushes out the toxins from your body and gives your body immunity a natural boost. Drinking olive oil pre-bedtime helps in promoting cytokines in the immune system that fights inflammation and harmful substances and gives your body the strength to fight against various infections. The more toxins are released from the body, the lighter, healthier, and more active it will feel.
Treats Constipation
Constipation is common among adults over 60 and can have severe effects on overall health. Drinking one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil at night provides significant relief from chronic constipation and regulates bowel movements. The link between olive oil intake and reduced constipation is quite promising, and being an effective mineral oil, its regular intake strongly advocates the reduction in constipation among adults. Drinking olive oil daily enables stool to hold more water and ensures its smooth passage.
Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Although more studies are needed to perform to advocate the link between olive oil intake and combatting cancer, there are various pieces of evidence that support this correlation. Olive oil contains anti-oxidants that keep free radicals away from the organ system. It works as a protective shield against carcinogenic elements and neutralizes the free radicals present in the human body. The intake of olive oil at night is suggested to minimize the risk of cancer without harming the healthy cells, which makes it a miraculous oil, as proven by multiple studies.
Improves Digestion
Back then, the Mediterranean people strongly believed that olive oil intake helped improve digestion by controlling gastric influx. Various medical researchers strongly agree with this notion that olive oil helps lubricate the intestinal tract and ensures the regular release of gastric content into the duodenum. It helps in improving nutrient absorption and makes digestion easier. Since extra-virgin olive oil stimulates the production of peptides in the body, nutrient absorption is fast, and your body gets the maximum benefits of the consumed nutrients.
Controls Blood Sugar Level
People who consume an olive oil-rich Mediterranean diet have reported having a controlled amount of insulin in their blood. For patients with Diabetes, olive oil works like a wonder by controlling the increased blood sugar level. Since it is rich in monounsaturated fats, olive oil prevents diabetes and ensures that your body absorbs only healthy fats. The monounsaturated fats in the extra-virgin olive oil help convert sugar into energy that you may consume in your daily activities. Intaking one or two tablespoons of olive oil at night helps ensure that the blood glucose level is at a moderate level and does not fluctuate more often.
Bottom Line
Olive oil, in its every form, impacts your health positively. To reap the maximum benefits of this magical oil, you must follow a proper consumption routine. If you have decided to start your consumption of olive oil, it is suggested to take the extra-virgin olive oil in its freshest form. The human body needs good fats to survive; olive oil is an important resource for those essential good fats. However, it is always a good idea to ask your doctor about the amount of olive oil that you should consume on a daily basis, and once you know this, you should remain consistent with your daily olive oil intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is the biggest producer of olive oils?
Spain is the biggest producer of olive oil in today’s time.
Is olive oil extracted from seed?
Olive oil is not extracted from the seed, but it is extracted from the fruit.
Which countries are top producers of olive oil?
Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Portugal, and Italy are some of the prominent and biggest producers and exporters of olive oil.
Is olive oil extracted from pressing nowadays?
In the modern day, the olives are not pressed to extract olive oils, but a modern hydraulic press is performed on the olive paste to collect olive oil. These modern equipment are time-saving and do not require much human effort.
What happens if I drink olive oil regularly?
Intaking olive oil daily helps improve the functioning of heart vessels, tightens the skin, reduces chronic inflammation, promotes good cholesterol levels, decreases the risk of heart stroke, and helps shed extra pounds.
How much olive oil should I consume every day?
Drinking four tablespoons of good-quality olive oil is recommended for a healthy body. However, the quantity may change depending on age, weight, health status, etc. You should consult a doctor before following a daily intake of olive oil.
Can I drink olive oil directly?
Yes, you can intake olive oil directly, but the taste might not be good for the buds. For added benefits and improved taste, you may consume it in the form of salad dressing or use it for cooking purposes.
How much olive oil should I consume at night?
You should consume one tablespoon of olive oil before bed at night to help reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and improve body functioning.
What is the best way of consuming olive oil?
The best way of consuming olive oil is to drink it straight without adding it to anything. It might taste weird and unpleasant initially, but once you start intaking it, you may develop a habit of its taste.
How is olive oil helpful for the skin?
The antioxidants in olive oil help in skin rejuvenation, fights wrinkles, reduce skin irritation and works as a barrier against free radicals.
Emily Smith is a talented content writer, wielding words to create captivating stories and informative articles across a wide range of topics. With a passion for effective communication and a love for research, Emily consistently produces engaging and valuable content. She’s dedicated to conveying ideas clearly and compellingly, making her a sought-after voice in the digital sphere. When not writing, Emily enjoys immersing herself in art, nature, and culinary adventures for fresh bursts of creativity.
Loading…