More often than not, you’ll hear about the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in relation to cardiovascular health. What many of us don’t realise though, is that those same properties that make EVOO so great for your heart and blood vessels—also make it really, really great for helping you as you transition through perimenopause – from managing your symptoms, to protecting you from the health consequences of our changing hormones.
5 Ways in Which EVOO is essential for metabolic health in perimenopause
It helps to reduce inflammation
If you want to feel good, have energy throughout the entire day, get a good night’s sleep, and successfully achieve your ideal weight, it is essential to get your inflammatory levels under control. Inflammation is the driver of most major diseases, but the good news is that EVOO can help fight inflammation through its potent anti-inflammatory actions.
EVOO is rich in polyphenols, one of which is called oleocanthal. Oleocanthal has been studied significantly over the past 20 years with researchers discovering that it follows the same biochemical pathway as ibuprofen, and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory helping to prevent the build-up of inflammation in your body.
Improves gut health
EVOO contain compounds that enhance the diversity of your gut microbes, keeping your gut healthy and functioning optimally.
A healthy gut
• improves absorption of the nutrients your body needs during perimenopause
• helps regulate oestrogen levels
• improves blood sugar balance
• helps prevents weight gain
• can keep hot flashes at bay
Improves joint health
Reducing oestrogen leaves our joints dry, inflamed and sore.
Extra virgin olive oil contains Tocopherol or vitamin E which is a powerful anti-oxidant necessary for hormonal and joint health during our menopause transition.
Improves cardiac health as we age
There is lots of research demonstrating the benefits of EVOO for heart health including its ability to reduce blood pressure and reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol, both of which contribute to cardiovascular disease.
EVOO has also been associated with reduced risk of stroke.
Improves brain health
EVOO has been shown to improve long term memory, mood and mental health including anxiety and depression.
Studies in mice have also shown that it reduces brain inflammation and can potentially slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
With EVOO you get what you pay for, so it is a bit more expensive than other oils, but it could save you heaps in supplements that may or may not be working for you. Of course, you can’t simply add olive oil to a subpar diet and expect it to be a game changer for your health. But layering it onto an overall nutrient-dense diet can certainly help. That’s because so many of the health benefits we experience from food actually depend on the synergistic interactions between various nutrients — not any one nutrient alone and that’s why, when women come onto my RESET programme, I introduce them to the Mediterranean Diet. Because really, for women going through perimenopause this really is a near perfect diet.
I hope you can join me sometime.
