Olive oil is a healthy fat that comes from olives and is rich in vitamin E, an excellent antioxidant that helps prevent skin aging. However, no more than 4 tablespoons per day can be eaten, which corresponds to 200 calories because above that amount, olive oil increases fat in the blood and becomes harmful to health.
The type of oil is written on the label of the oil bottle and extra virgin oil is the best oil because it is the purest of oils, rich in vitamins and minerals, excellent for seasoning salads and vegetables or even for use in stews and frying. Other types of olive oil can be:
- Virgin Olive Oil - a little more acidic than extra virgin olive oil but also rich in vitamins and minerals, good for seasoning or use in stews and fried foods. Refined Olive Oil - has less quality, as the refining processes remove color, flavor, aroma and vitamins. Can be used to season. Compound Olive Oil - is a mixture of refined olive oil with other types of oil such as soybean oil, which is why it no longer resists high temperatures, and should not be used in stews or for frying.
In addition to the types of olive oil there is also palm oil internationally known as palm oil, which has more saturated fats that are harmful to health and increase cholesterol, so it is not as good for health as olive oil.
How to use olive oil correctly
Olive oil can be used to season salads and vegetables or to stew and fry. Olive oil can also be used in bread, for example in place of butter, being a healthier option.
Olive oil can be used to grill meat as it is a fat that can withstand high temperatures without spoiling, but it should not be used to fry food, as shown in the second image.
The amount of oil that can be consumed daily should be only 1 tablespoon to water the food after its preparation.
Check the best olive oil for cooking in the following video:
How to buy good olive oil
The oil must be purchased in 500 ml glass containers so that the oil does not lose properties after being opened in the larger packages, nor does it oxidize easily in smaller packages. A good tip is not to buy olive oil thinking only of price, but taking into account its health benefits.
To enhance the benefits of olive oil, its aroma and flavor, what you can do is add a bunch of rosemary and other spices inside the bottle.
The acidity of the oil must not exceed 0.5%. Generally, extra virgin olive oil has up to 1% acidity, virgin oil between 1.2% and 1.5% acidity and refined oil between 1.5% to 2.3% and therefore the best oil for health is extra virgin olive oil.
Learn more at: Benefits of olive oil.
