How Nigerians use olive oil?
In Nigeria, olive oil is very popular particularly among Christians and it is used mainly for religious purposes. It is, specifically, used to anoint devotees in Christian religious and ordination ceremonies, for prayers and for spiritual cleansing. Little bottles of this oil are purchased for the sole purpose of having their spiritual head pray blessings over it. These prayer of blessings could be that of healing, protection, deliverance, divine favor or empowerment. Unlike in the Mediterranean, where olive oil is the major culinary oil, Nigerians make use of Palm oil, groundnut oil and various brands of vegetable oil for cooking. This is because the average Nigerian is still ignorant of the superiority of olive oil to other culinary oils and the fact that olive oil is actually edible and can be used as a cooking oil.
The various uses of olive oil
Olive oil, especially the Virgin varieties, is one of nature's elixirs and can be used as a laxative, sedative, aphrodisiac, for muscle aches, to relieve hangovers; in hair, beauty and skin care products. But, none of these is as important as the benefits of olive oil to our immune system and overall health. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin E, A, K; iron, amino acids, potassium, magnesium, mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and loads of phytonutrients; to mention a few.
The daily consumption of olive oil, with a balanced diet of fruits, nuts, vegetables and whole grains, increases life expectancy by aiding the immune system to fight against chronic and degenerative diseases. A few of these benefits will be discussed below.
The nutritional benefits of olive oil
Olive oil and cancer
The phytonutrients in olive oil have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Numerous studies have shown that the daily consumption of olive oil drastically lowers the risk of developing cancers such as breast, ovarian, lung, colon and skin. The compounds in olive oil especially the polyphenol, fight against harmful free radicals, inflammation and bad UV rays which are the major causes of all forms of cancer.
Olive oil and cholesterol
A rich diet in olive oil protects your heart by decreasing your risk of developing heart disease. How does it do this? Olive oil lowers the bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) and increases the good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein). It also protects the cellular wall of the blood vessels from damage.
Olive oil and coronary heart disease
High blood pressure can lead to life threatening conditions such as stroke and heart attack. Olive oil reduces your risk of developing an elevated blood pressure. One study shows that those who consume olive oil daily reduce the risk of stroke by 40% compared to those who do not use olive oil at all.
Olive oil and diabetes
A balanced diet rich in olive oil reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. The monounsaturated fats found in the oil lowers cholesterol and controls insulin levels and blood sugar levels.
Olive oil and osteoporosis
A high intake of olive oil prevents the onset of osteoporosis( a disease that causes the bones to be weak and fragile) and actively slows it down by improving the bone mineral density and increasing the ability of the bones to utilize calcium.
Olive oil and weight loss
A good weight loss plan and lifestyle
change should include a daily intake of olive oil as the main culinary oil. Unlike groundnut oil (a very popular edible oil in Nigeria), olive oil is rich in healthy fat that is heart friendly. Follow @nature_elixirs
The different varieties of olive oil
The 'Virgin' varieties of olive oil offer the greatest health benefit. These include the 'virgin' and 'extra virgin'. The later is much higher in quality. These types of olive oil are produced by physical means with no chemical treatments or additives, thereby, retaining most of their nutrients from the olive fruit. However, olive oil is a very fragile oil that easily loses its nutritional value to heat and light, rendering the oil completely useless. That is why all bottles of olive oil always have inscribed on their
labels, "protect from light and heat"The fragility of olive oil
However, I simply do not understand why most brand companies of this oil insist on storing and selling it in transparent glass bottles that do nothing to shield it from the damage of light and heat. Also, in most shops and homes in Lagos, Nigeria, these bottles are displayed in open and conspicuous places rather than in cool and dark places away from the light and heat of the sun or any other source of light and heat for that matter, such as a light bulb or near a cooking stove. Olive oil with all its benefits is still the most fragile of all the cooking oils, and if not properly stored, loses all its nutritional value.
Let's face it, olive oil as a culinary oil is still majorly unknown in Nigeria, though kudos to the most popular brand and distributor of the oil in Nigeria for recently developing and promoting bigger cans for cooking and have stepped up its marketing campaign to promote the culinary benefits of the oil. The sharp flavor of the oil in foods might take some getting used to and most Nigerians love to fry, especially deep fry, and this could be a challenge because olive oil, unlike groundnut oil and vegetable oil, cannot take the heat. Olive oil should not be heated up or used for frying. But there are other creative ways to consume olive oil, especially if you are trying it out for the first time, for example, I do sometimes spread olive oil on my whole wheat bread.
With all its good qualities, olive oil should be consumed in moderation. So, at least, include a table spoon of olive oil in your daily diet. I don't know about you, but I do appreciate the idea that I can have a 'one stop' oil that would meet my spiritual physical and cooking needs.
What about you? How do you use your olive oil? Please share more amazing uses and benefits of olive oil that wasn't included in the article... . We would love to hear from you.
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