Olive oil in Russia was known for a long time, but they called it Provence. They brought it mainly from the south of France. Although the first to cultivate olive trees and, accordingly, to extract healthy fats from fruits, the ancient Greeks began. It was they who invented the press, with the help of which they crushed the soft parts of the fruits and seeds, obtaining high-quality golden-green liquid by cold pressing. The calorie content of olive oil is 898 kcal per 100 g of product. Moreover, it absolutely does not contain any proteins and carbohydrates. It can be said that it is solid fat (99.8 g).
Why, then, is olive oil considered a dietary product? After all, it is an integral part of the so-called Mediterranean diet, which, incidentally, is included in the UNESCO List as an intangible asset of mankind. Indeed, in fact, dressing a salad with sour cream (15-20% fat), we will get a less caloric product than if we poured olive oil on it (almost 100%). It's all about the digestibility of the product. The high calorie content of olive oil does not affect the figure at all, because it is completely processed by the body and is not deposited in it as subcutaneous fat. Fatty acid triglycerides and an extremely high olein ester content contribute to this.
However, it is worth paying attention to the varieties of oil. The most valuable type is Extra Virgin (virgin) oil. It has a distinct greenish tint and a distinct bitterness in taste. It is also called natural virgin oil. The fact is that it is obtained by simple cold pressing from the fruits of an olive tree. It is he who is called "liquid gold" (according to the successful expression of Homer). And although the caloric content of olive oil varies little from the production method, all other varieties are considered worse. And all because the level of unsaturated fats and linoleic acid is reduced in them.
Refined oil is cleaned physically and chemically of the “virgin” bitterness, which some consider unpleasant. And absolutely useless for health is oilcake, prepared from squeezed by heating and chemical solvents. Despite the fact that the caloric content of olive oil of the second and third extractions remains the same high, it is not easily absorbed by the body and does not break down cholesterol at all.
A correctly selected variety of Provencal fat with its daily use eliminates diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, improves eyesight. People who often use this oil in their diet have thick hair and strong, healthy nails. The linoleic acid contained in fat quickly heals wounds; vitamins K, E, A and D strengthen muscles and bone tissue, and phenols increase immunity. A wonderful soft and delicate taste allows you to completely forget how high calorie olive oil has. A tablespoon of such a dressing in a vegetable salad certainly will not do any harm to your body, but only benefit.
For those who are used to calculating the nutritional value always and in everything, we recommend using only the Virgin variety, moreover, packed in glass containers. In such bottles there are convenient dispensers with which you can pour liquid even into a coffee spoon. The calorie content of a teaspoon of olive oil will then be 45 kcal, and the dining room - 199 units.