The Benefits of Olives.

There's nothing like a big, tasty bowl of olives. I could eat a whole bowl all by myself. Whether black, green or any color in between, I love them all!

Olives are one of life's little bundles of joy. They're cheap and easy to obtain here in the United States. You can put them on sandwiches, place them on a pizza or just enjoy them as a quick snack. Yet, what are some of the actual health benefits of the olive? Let's cover them!

• Eating olives before a large meal will help to control your appetite. This is because of the monosaturated fatty acids found in olives. These fatty acids trigger the release of cholecystokinin, a hormone involved with digestion. It tells your brain to stop eating.
• A few olives every day can lower your blood pressure and help to control your cholesterol.
• Oleic acid is also found in olives. This is an excellent component for keeping your heart healthy.
• Another benefit of oleic acid is more readily apparent. It's been proven to maintain the health of your skin, reducing both the propensity for wrinkles and keeping your skin color vibrant.
• Olives are generally considered a super-food; they contain high levels of iron, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin A and phosphorus.
• Because of the high levels of iron they contain, olives are definitely recommended for people whom suffer from anemia.
• Polyphenols, which improve memory function in the brain, are also found in olives. Eating a handful a day can noticeable improve your ability to recall data.
• Those whom want to improve their physical health and lose weight should incorporate olives into their meals. When you consume olives, they stimulate the production of adiponectin. This extends the amount of time your digestive tract will burn the fat found in your food.
• Perhaps the most important factor of all -- olives contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals which fight against chronic oxidative stress. In simple terminology: olives help to prevent the development of cancer!

The next time you want to reach for a bag of potato chips or cookies, reach for a cup of olives instead. Your body will thank you.

Also, don't forget to wash those olives down with a cup of tea. That's a guaranteed knockout combo punch to poor health!