The benefits of olive oil are no secret to the world. Extracted from olives, this oil has gained global popularity for being a treasure trove of nutrients. As per the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, olive oil is loaded with mono-saturated fatty acids that help regulate blood sugar level and promote digestion. According to Macrobiotic Nutritionist and Health Practitioner Shilpa Arora ND, "this oil has ample heart-protective polyphenols and anti-inflammatory properties, known to manage cholesterol and blood pressure level." But did you know wild olive oil has a better impact on blood pressure than extra virgin olive oil?! For the uninitiated, extra virgin olive oil is extracted by cold-pressing olives. It is unrefined and is dubbed to be the best quality of olive oil one can get.
What Is Wild Olive Oil?
Wild olive, also called acebuche, is deemed the first variety of olive trees, grown in the Mediterranean area. This variety is also found throughout Spain. It is a shrub and quite similar to the regular olives we see today. However, what makes wild olives different from olives is the fact that the fruits and the leaves of the former are smaller in size than the latter.
Wild Olives For Hypertension | Benefits Of Acebuche:
A recent study by the Cardiovascular Physiopathology research group at the Physiology Department of the University of Seville stated that diet rich in acebuchin oil (wild olive oil) may help regulate arterial blood pressure. In fact, the study found that this oil had a better impact on our health than extra virgin olive oil.
As per a report in ANI, the researchers conducted a study on mice and gave them food either prepared with acebuchin oil or extra virgin olive oil. It was found that acebuchin oil-enriched diet reduced blood pressure in hypertensive animals.
The research team, led by Professor Carmen Maria Vazquez Cueto and Professor Alfonso Mate Barrero, further found that this diet also helps reduce ocular oxidative stress produced by arterial hypertension (AHT), compared to extra virgin olive oil.