Food as Medicine
Virgin olive oil in preventive medicine: From legend to epigenetics The purpose of the present review is an overview of the possibility that EVOO is effective in the prevention and/or reduction of hypercholesterolemia, serum lipoprotein levels, and atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and thrombotic risk, oxidation and oxidative stress, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, inflammatory processes, and cancer.
Effects of olive oil phenolic compounds on inflammation in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease Daily consumption of olive oil seems to modulate cytokines and inflammatory markers related to Coronary artery disease (CAD) in individuals at risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, clinical studies that have evaluated the effects of olive oil and its phenolic compounds on individuals with CAD are still scarce. Effects of Olive Oil Phenolic Compounds on Inflammation in the Prevention and Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease
Olive oil biophenols and women’s health Olea europea, the olive tree, is an ancient tree that originates from the Mediterranean environment of Asia Minor. The edible olive fruit is also used for its oil, gained by the process of pressing, a nutrient with proven beneficial effects. Virgin olive oil is the natural juice of the olive fruit, which plays a major role in the healthy Mediterranean diet. The source of its health effects are the biophenols and squalenes (oleocanthal, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein) it contains. They provide exceptional antioxidative activity, removing harmful compounds from the body. Oxidants are essential in the genesis of many diseases and conditions, such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and premenstrual syndrome. Oleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, has demonstrated a significant effect in the prevention of malignant diseases such as colon cancer and breast cancer. Biophenols from olive oil successfully suppress the synthesis of LDL, a protein that is crucial in the development of cardiovascular disease, by reducing blood pressure and the development of atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, there is strong evidence of the antimicrobic effect of the biphenols from olive oil that successfully destroys colonies of microorganisms, which may cause respiratory tract, intestinal, and genital tract infections. Olive oil biophenols and women’s health
Olive oil effects on colorectal cancer Olive oil is rich in high-value health compounds (such as monounsaturated free fatty acids, squalene, phytosterols, and phenols). Phenolic compounds exert favorable effects on free radicals, inflammation, gut microbiota, and carcinogenesis. The interaction between gut microbiota and olive oil consumption could modulate colonic microbial composition or activity, with a possible role in cancer prevention. Gut microbiota is able to degrade some substances found in olive oil, producing active metabolites with chemopreventive action. Further clinical research is needed to clarify the beneficial effects of olive oil and its components. A better knowledge of the compounds found in olive oil could lead to the development of nutritional supplements or chemotherapeutic agents with potential in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. Olive Oil Effects on Colorectal Cancer
Curcumin: A Potent Protectant against Esophageal and Gastric Disorders Turmeric obtained from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa has been used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases since ancient times. Curcumin is the principal polyphenol isolated from turmeric, which exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antitumor, and antimetastatic properties…