The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out and olive oil is once again receiving significant recommendations.
“Use oils to replace solid fats where possible.”
The report highlights the alarming state of the nation’s health: “Americans are experiencing an epidemic of overweight and obesity. Poor diet and physical inactivity also are linked to major causes of illness and death. To correct these problems, many Americans must make significant changes in their eating habits and lifestyles.”
A key recommendation is to use olive oil in place of solid fats whenever possible. In addition, since Extravagonzo Culinary Olive Oils are 20% grapeseed oil, they are a great choice for cooking.
Some of the highlights of the report:
Balancing Calories to Manage Weight
- Prevent and/or reduce overweight and obesity through improved eating and physical activity behaviors.
- Control total calorie intake to manage body weight. For people who are overweight or obese, this will mean consuming fewer calories from foods and beverages.
- Increase physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors.
- Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life—childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and older age.
Building Healthy Eating Patterns
- Select an eating pattern that meets nutrient needs over time at an appropriate calorie level.
- Account for all foods and beverages consumed and assess how they fit within a total healthy eating pattern.
- Follow food safety recommendations when preparing and eating foods to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Click here to go to the USDA DietaryGuidelines.gov website to read the full document and related material.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Some of the many benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) are:
- Provides antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties
- Shows a potentially positive result for lowering blood pressure
- Can help reduce obesity
- Potentially reduces the incidence of colon cancer
- Has shown a positive impact on type 2 diabetes
- Has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol levels
- Possibly reduces the risk of heart disease
Grape Seed Oil
A polyunsaturated oil rich in linoleic acid, a main source of Omega 6. Naturally rich in vitamin E, a potent natural antioxidant, grape seed oil has also been shown to significantly increase HDL levels and decrease hypertension. Grape seed oil also offers vast potential benefits in the treatment of various liver disorders.
Garlic
Medical studies have shown that garlic can potentially help lower cholesterol, help prevent dangerous blood clots, help reduce blood pressure, help prevent cancer, and help protect against bacterial and fungal infections. Garlic contains vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, together with a variety of agents that have anti-microbial, anti-clotting, anti-carcinogenic, and cholesterol-changing effects.