In recent years, olive oil has been highly praised for its health benefits, but even the "healthiest" oil requires attention to daily intake. Otherwise, not only will its health benefits not be realized, but it can also easily lead to other health risks. Consuming too much olive oil can also be harmful to your health.
Olive oil is one of the oldest edible oils in human history and is the oil that preserves nutrients most completely. Whether used in cold dishes or for stir-frying, its unique aroma with a slight olive flavor brings a fresh taste. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, which helps lower "bad cholesterol" in the blood and increase "good cholesterol," making it beneficial for controlling blood lipids.
Although olive oil has many health benefits, like other cooking oils, it contains 99.9 grams of fat and 899 kilocalories per 100 grams. Therefore, consuming too much is also detrimental to health and can lead to problems such as obesity. The daily consumption of olive oil should not exceed 30 grams, and it is best to limit it to under 25 grams.
The common types of olive oil on the market can be divided into extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, and ordinary olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil preserves nutrients best, is of superior quality, and is the top choice.
Many people also have a misconception when consuming olive oil, believing that it can only be used in cold dishes to preserve its nutrients. In fact, it can be used for stir-frying, but the oil temperature must not be too high, and methods like pan-frying are not suitable. Actually, not only olive oil, but any oil is unsuitable for high-temperature cooking.
When storing olive oil, it is important to ensure that the storage container is clean and dry, with a good seal. When purchasing, it is best to choose small bottles. Storage should be away from strong light and high temperatures, and it is suitable to be stored in a shaded, ventilated place.