Looking for another reason to include extra virgin olive oil in your regular diet? A recent scientific study showed a number of minerals and nutrients found in extra virgin oil may help to prevent the loss of bone mass.
There have already been a number of studies showing links between consumption of a Mediterranean diet and lower incidence of osteoporosis and fractures. A 2013 study including nearly 190,000 subject from eight different European countries concluded subjects who more closely follow a traditional Mediterranean diet are less likely to suffer from hip fractures.
This most recent study analyzing the link between bone strength and olive oil intake was conducted over a two-year period and involved three different groups of
elderly men. One group consumed a daily diet including 50 milliliters of extra virgin olive oil, another consumed 30 grams of mixed nuts and the final one consumed a low-fat Mediterranean diet. When the study period concluded, only the group with the extra intake of extra virgin olive oil had increased levels of procollagen and serum osteocalcin, both of which have long been associated with promoting bone health and strength.
Another recent study showed a positive correlation between intake of monounsaturated fatty acids and the density of bone minerals. Incidents of fractures were found to be significantly lower in Greece, where olive oil is a major part of the diet, than in countries like the United States and a variety of northern European countries.
One more study focused on the phenols in olive oil, which have already been associated with protections against various cancers, the aging process and cardiovascular diseases. They are now also associated with preventing osteoporosis, thanks to a 2014 study from the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition.
In the study, researchers conducted experiments on human bone marrow stem cells and discovered that oleuropein could prevent osteoporosis and bone loss caused by the aging process.
Add all these studies to the laundry list of reasons why you should integrate extra virgin olive oil into your daily diet. Contact us today at My Olive Tree to place your order of a bottle of our high-quality extra virgin oil, made from olives harvested and cared for in Israel.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create a partnership between the Evangelical community and the nation of Israel; this partnership will produce employment, income, and revenue for humanitarian aid projects in Israel. We envision the planting of one-million olive trees over the next seven years. This relationship was prophesied in the Bible centuries ago, that the foreigners and strangers (those not of Jewish descent) would help rebuild the walls of Israel and cause the desert to bloom (Isa 35:1). Among other things, this reforestation is an environmental blessing for the entire region. May all who participate in this project be blessed body, soul and spirit; it is time for you to take root in Israel!