Olives are evergreen trees and shrubs cultivated by humans since ancient times. They prefer the warm temperate climate of the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, and South Asia. The most ancient variety is the European olive, the fruits of which are equally useful as canned food and as olive oil.
The pages of the Bible glorify the plant as a symbol of rebirth and vitality, its exceptional properties are described by the pages of the Koran, the image of an olive is found on many coats of arms. Even a small root of a plant, once in the ground, will soon sprout. The peoples of the Mediterranean are convinced that those who consume the fruits of the tree will be able to withstand all the hardships of life.
The fruits are called olives and. The fact is that not quite ripe fruits are usually called olives 9 useful properties of olives for the human body. Composition of vitamins, minerals and nutritional value. For what diseases are olives recommended and what are the contraindications. and black olives. Scientists biochemists, having studied the chemical composition of olives, have found in them a lot of useful properties that can help human health.
Olives - composition
The composition of 100 grams of olives includes:
Olives - 13 useful properties
-
Helping the cardiovascular system
The presence of free radicals in the body oxidizes cholesterol, and fat accumulates in the arteries, leading to a heart attack. The antioxidant substances in olives prevent heart disease by inhibiting the oxidation of cholesterol.
Olives contain monounsaturated fats, which, by reducing inflammation, improve heart function. American scientists, having studied monounsaturated fats in olives, believe that due to this quality, the fruits help the cardiovascular system and reduce blood pressure readings.
-
Benefits of olives for weight loss
Monounsaturated fats found in olives are able to break down intracellular fats, helping to maintain a toned body. People who consume olive oil in their daily diet feel the body's satiety faster, without overeating or burdening themselves with extra pounds.
Blood tests in such people show stable levels of serotonin (the hormone of satiety), which makes them feel completely satisfied with their food without increasing their calorie intake.
-
Cancer prevention
Chronic oxidative processes in the body can provoke the development of cancer. Olives, rich in antioxidants and rich in vitamin E, which can neutralize the effects of free radicals, reduce the possibility of cancer. Scientific studies have shown that the addition of olives to food reduces the possibility of developing malignant tumors.
-
Natural pain reliever
Olives are loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances that act as natural pain relievers. The substance oleocantha, which is part of the fruit, is similar in properties to classic non-steroidal drugs. Three tablespoons of oil (adult dose) has the effect of ibuprofen.
-
Helping skin and hair follicles
The main advantage of olive oil is vitamin E, which protects and nourishes our skin and strands. Vitamin prevents premature aging of the skin, protecting it from harmful ultraviolet radiation. A few drops added to a daily cream will improve the complexion, and applications with olive oil will relieve scalp irritations, having a beneficial effect on the condition of the hair.
-
Improves the functioning of the gastric tract
The consumption of olive oil in the diet, filled with monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, not only neutralizes free radicals, but also has a beneficial effect on stomach diseases - ulcers and gastritis. 250 grams of olives contain up to 17% of the fiber required for the passage of food through the esophagus. Fiber, by maintaining an optimal balance of chemical compounds, contributes to the creation of beneficial intestinal microflora, keeping it healthy.
-
With anemia
Black olives are rich in iron, which is so necessary for our body to carry oxygen through the tissues of the body. Oxygen "starvation" is fraught with symptoms such as weakness, increased fatigue for a person. Iron elements help maintain vitality and tone, ensuring the normal functioning of the entire immune system. The consumption of olives maintains the level of iron elements, helping with the manifestations of anemia.
-
For eye health
Olives contain vitamin A, which a person needs for the normal functioning of the visual receptors. A cup of ripe olive fruits contains up to 10% of the required daily amount of this vitamin and helps prevent macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.
-
Strengthening immunity
Eating olives increases blood levels of glutathione, a nutrient that protects our immune system with its antioxidant properties. Glutathione helps the body's cells to resist toxins by improving lymphocyte composition.
-
The benefits of olives for women's health
For women, olives are extremely useful and are a gift from nature. Their composition, saturated with fatty acids, has regenerating and stimulating properties, providing a strengthening and healing effect on the body of women. B vitamins, choline, vitamins A, C, P will compensate for the lack of nutrients, strengthening muscle and bone tissues and improving digestive functions.
-
Reducing the toxic effects of alcohol
As a supplement to alcoholic beverages, olives are believed to neutralize the toxic effects of intoxicating drinks. This fact is not scientifically substantiated, but many people prefer to consume the fruit in combination with alcohol.
- · Fruits ripened on the bush are larger in size;
- · Naturally processed olives do not have a shiny skin. Their appearance will be slightly flattened;
- · We met the additive E 579 on a jar of canned olives, rest assured, the product is artificially colored.
Excessive amounts of histamine molecules can cause allergic reactions in the body. Extracts of olive oil perform antihistamine functions at the level of cell function. The components of the oil block gimamine receptors, decreasing the cell's response to histamine. Olive oil is used in an anti-allergenic diet. With its anti-inflammatory properties, it increases blood flow, making breathing easier in asthma.
The life cycle of the olive tree reaches 500 years.
The surviving Greek amphorae are decorated with images of olive trees.
The Greeks believed that the fruit was given to them by the goddess Athena herself.
Olive oil is made from 90% of the world's harvested crop. It is the only oil that can be eaten without further processing.
Fresh fruits have a bitter taste, they are treated with alkaline or salty solutions, only after processing they acquire the taste we are familiar with.
Eating 20 olives for a month will act as a prophylaxis against the formation of stones in the kidneys and urinary tract.
Our body absorbs the oil of cold-pressed olives by 98%. It is impossible to reuse olives; during cooking, it absorbs the toxic substances of other products.
In Spain, an olive festival is held in November, where everyone can taste the fruits and their dishes.
The leading exporters of these fruits are the Spaniards. The most famous brands of olive varieties are Acenorca, Oro Negro, Perla oliva, Iberika, Sol Negro.
IMPORTANT! When buying olives, you should know that:
People often think that olives and olives are completely different fruits of different trees. Nothing like this. Olives and olives - fruits from one tree - olives. The difference lies in the stages of maturity - green, not yet ripe olives are called olives, but black fruits that have reached their full ripeness are called olives. Many experts recommend consuming olives on a daily basis, citing their benefits for the body. But how useful they are, or maybe vice versa - harmful, we will find out further.
Olives. Benefits and harm to the body
First, we will carefully consider the positive aspects of olives, that is, their benefits for the body. The first thing any specialist will say is that olives have an ideal balance of nutrients. Olives contain a lot of manganese, as well as calcium - vital for humans. The use of olives in food has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the locomotor system - the calcium contained in them helps to strengthen the bones, making them stronger and protecting against all kinds of diseases of the supporting system of the body. In addition, the substances contained in the fruit help prevent the formation of calculus in the gallbladder. The olive fruit helps the digestion process by helping to remove harmful and unnecessary substances from the body. Also, the composition of olives contains linoleic acid, and it is known to help the healing of various wounds.
A little more about the benefits of olives
So, what else are olives different? The benefits and harms to health, if considered on the same straight line, are in completely different proportions. The benefits of eating olive fruits are still much greater. Which woman is not familiar with face and hand creams made from olive fruits? And the fact is that the peel of olives contains a lot of essential oils, which not only moisturize the skin, but also significantly nourish it.
Other cosmetic products made on the basis of olive fruits are also very useful - shampoos, balms, lotions, and so on. In addition, the constant use of olives in food is recommended for people prone to strokes, heart attacks and angina pectoris. But returning to the ancient origins, you can find out that the Greeks sincerely believed in the mythical origin of these fruits, which, according to legend, were presented to people by the goddess of wisdom Athena.
A few words about the dangers of olives
So, after listing the positive aspects of olives, it's time to find out how they can be harmful to humans. So, the beloved fruits of the olive are black, oily olives. The benefits and harms to human health are an eternal controversial issue. Today we will consider those aspects that can really negatively affect human health.
Olives have a very strong choleretic property - that is why they contribute not only to prevention, but also to the partial removal of stones from the gallbladder. That is why the use of olives is strictly prohibited for people suffering from cholecystitis. Another disadvantage of olives is too high a content of vitamin A. Few people know, but in large proportions it can be toxic - cause poisoning of the body.
Olives and weight loss
So, we learned how useful and harmful olives are. The benefits and harms to the body will be individual for each person, depending on the qualities and characteristics of the body. However, olives are often recommended for those who have decided to seriously lose weight. The main advantage of these wonderful fruits is that they ideally satisfy hunger. Again, eating an olive just plucked from a tree is not possible - it tastes very bitter. Therefore, before the olives get on our table, they need to undergo serious processing. Usually this is soaking in a saline solution, oxidation in air, and then canning. In this form, ready-to-eat olives come to our tables.
Benefit and harm - both sides are relevant for losing weight. The benefit is that olives cannot be called a high-calorie product, the harm is that if there are a lot of olives, the weight will still increase, and overeating can also affect your well-being.
And again about diets
Green and black olives - the benefits and harms of losing weight. Olives are an extremely rich source of monounsaturated fats, which are the healthiest ones. Why does a person gain weight? Because over time, the body accumulates harmful fats, which begin to be deposited in solid reserves.
Monounsaturated fats reduce the accumulation of "bad" cholesterol, which is the most effective way to fight body fat. One more quality of the olive cannot be ignored. Benefit and harm - the calorie content of the fruit: in greens it is twice as much as in black. Thus, by going on a diet and eating green fruits, you can do little harm with unlimited consumption. By eating black olives, we get more benefits, since we consume half the calories. But you still need to remember one thing - the smaller the portion, the lower the calorie content.
What else do you need to know when losing weight?
And there is one more important thing to know. Olives have a fairly low glycemic index. If explained in understandable language, this would mean that when we eat olives, we receive energy not abruptly - in one jerk, but gradually. Why is this good? Yes, the fact that with a sharp energy rise, an increase in blood glucose occurs - and this is not a very good indicator. With a gradual flow of energy, this does not happen. Increased glycemia, in turn, causes a person and the more hungry we get, the more we eat. When we eat olives, we quickly dull the feeling of hunger, which does not arise afterwards for a long time. These are the olives. Benefit and harm ... The properties of the fruit in the end still outweigh in the positive direction.
How to include olives in your diet?
We have carefully considered what olives are. The benefits and harms to the body are also now familiar to us. It remains to figure out how and how much you need to consume olives per day. Since salt, which is present in fruits in large quantities, inhibits weight gain, you need to eat them daily, but without excessive fanaticism. The ideal option would be not just to eat the fruits of the olive, but to add them to different salads. For example, a salad of chicken breast, lettuce leaves, cucumber, feta cheese and olives will perfectly satisfy hunger, while its calorie content will be very low.
It is also good to use olives as a snack. The calculation can be as follows: one large fruit contains about twelve calories - which means that five or six olives will be enough to get rid of the feeling of hunger before the next meal. Olives can be added to soup, main courses, which will also reduce the portion eaten without compromising full saturation.
And a little more about olives
We learned what olives are, the benefits and harms for the body, what they are - we also considered. Now let's turn to the general factors. In general, there are about a hundred different types of olives. They mostly look like this - small and green, large black, or medium black with a slightly brownish tint. Depending on the variety, the fruit can contain up to 80 percent oils. Well, almost everyone knows how useful olive oil is.
You need to choose fruits according to the following criteria - the surface of the skin should be flat, without damage. It is clear that it is better to buy fruits in a transparent container. The pulp should not creep in the fingers, but be firm, while the bone should be easily separated from the pulp. It is worth remembering that there are a lot of preservatives in store-stuffed olives, it is better to stuff the fruits yourself. And finally, carefully study the composition of the product: if it says on the package that it contains it, it means that the appetizing black color of the olives is of artificial origin.
Do not store olives in tin cans for a long time - tin and zinc can penetrate the fruits, making them dangerous to eat. The composition of the fruits in the jar should be as follows - citric acid, salt and water. Everything else is additives that are harmful and dangerous for the body.
The dove brought Noah an olive branch, which became a sign of the end of the Flood. Therefore, we can conclude that olive trees on our planet began to be cultivated a long time ago. Today, many people eat olives in their diet. The benefits and harms of canned fruits for the body are the subject of today's conversation.
Until now, disputes between ordinary people about the benefits and harms of olives and olives do not subside. These are two names for the same fruit of the olive tree, only they differ in the degree of ripeness. The usual olives are black, and the olives are green. It is by this principle that they can be distinguished.
Man began to eat the fruits of the olive tree for a long time, not even suspecting the benefits of olives. It is worth starting the study of this canned product with the composition.
Component composition:
- antioxidants;
- calcium;
- cellulose;
- ferrum;
- tocopherol;
- water;
- sodium;
- copper.
On a note! About 80% of the mass of olive fruits is water. Despite this, the calorie content of canned olives varies from 120 to 150 kilocalories per 100 g of product.
They are enriched with various antioxidants that have a number of beneficial properties. Experts noted that the use of these fruits in food has a beneficial effect on the work of the cardiovascular system, the production of red blood cells is stimulated, and the hemoglobin level rises. Vitamin E protects the beauty of our skin and curls. Canned olives are also a very tasty treat.
In addition to the above components, there is also iron gluconate in olives. Does such a component harm or benefit? With moderate consumption of canned olive fruits and taking into account the existing contraindications, you have no reason to fear for your health. From a jar of quality-marked olives, you will benefit exclusively. But if in the composition of olives there is such a food additive, which is often disguised under the code E579, you should refuse to buy such fruits of the olive tree.
On a note! Since unfair competition is rampant in our time, iron gluconate is used to change the color of unripe olive fruits.
And again we return to the chemical composition of olives. As mentioned, the fruits of the olive tree contain a high concentration of various antioxidants. In this regard, the product is useful for people who have a genetic predisposition to the disease of oncological pathologies.
In addition, the body is cleansed at the cellular level. Some acids have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms and bacteria.
Beneficial features:
- increased hemoglobin level;
- stimulation of the production of red blood cells;
- strengthening the body;
- normalization of the work of the organs of the cardiovascular system;
- strengthening of bone tissue;
- removal of toxic compounds and toxins from the body;
- lowering harmful cholesterol levels;
- strengthening the heart muscle;
- prevention of osteoporosis.
There is no harm in eating good olives. Just keep in mind that a brine containing salt is used for canning, so it is extremely undesirable to eat olives in excessive quantities. Some people report allergic reactions, but this is also due to the addition of brine.
Important! When choosing olives, study the composition in detail. A quality product has a relatively high cost and will not contain iron gluconate, which gives the olive tree its rich black color.
Cooking Pie "Maslinka"
Supporters of proper or dietary nutrition do not have to give up gastronomic pleasure. Olives and asparagus can be used to make an incredibly delicious pie. And to save time on preparing the dough, take a semi-finished puff product.
Ingredients:
- onion - 1 piece;
- Russian cheese - 300 g;
- semi-finished puff pastry without yeast - 1 pack;
- sesame seeds;
- canned olives - 1 can;
- frozen asparagus - 0.3 kg;
- chicken egg - 1 piece;
- spices.
Preparation:
- We take out in advance the semi-finished puff pastry on a yeast-free basis and asparagus from the freezer. We defrost food.
- Rinse the asparagus thoroughly and chop it if necessary.
- Chop the peeled onion into small cubes.
- Pour some refined olive oil into the pan. We spread the asparagus with chopped onions, stir, season with spices and simmer until cooked over low heat.
- Meanwhile, roll out the thawed dough into layers. We will need several sheets of dough for making rolls.
- Rub Russian cheese on a fine or medium grater.
- Put the fried asparagus with onions in the middle of the dough. Add chopped olives and grated Russian cheese.
- Cover the heat-resistant baking dish with parchment paper. We spread one roll.
- We will also collect the rest of the rolls. The pie looks like a snail.
- Beat the egg yolk and grease the pie with it, sprinkle everything with sesame seeds.
- We send the cake to the oven for 30 minutes. We will bake at a temperature of 180 °.
- Cool the finished cake.
- Remove the cooled cake carefully from the mold and cut into portions.
On a note! Olives can be used to prepare delicious Greek salad and various snacks. This canned product is even added to baked goods and soups. First, the brine must be drained from the olives.
As you can see, olives are famous not only for their gastronomic properties, but also for their great benefits for the human body. In the absence of contraindications, feel free to include canned fruits of the olive tree in your diet.
The homeland of the olive tree is the southeastern Mediterranean. Today it grows in Africa, Australia and in some regions of Europe and Asia. Its fruits are called olives, which, depending on the time of collection, are either black or green. In our country, it is customary to call black fruits olives, and green ones - olives. However, color differences are caused only by the degree of their maturity: greens are harvested earlier, and blacks - during full ripeness.
Olives are widely used in the industrial industry. They are used in cooking, cosmetology, industry, dietetics, alternative medicine, and even in soap making. What useful properties these fruits have, and how to use them for various purposes, we will consider further.
Composition and calorie content
The beneficial properties of olives are due to their rich natural composition. However, the usefulness of the product differs depending on the type. Olives can be fresh, oleaginous or canned. For medicinal purposes, all types of olives are used, as well as the leaves and oil of the olive fruit.
Calorie content low olives: 115..140 calories per 100 g of product. Ripe, fresh fruits are more nutritious. They contain from 150 to 180 Kcal per 100 g of product. The nutritional value of olives differs depending on the variety and place of harvest.
Chemical composition very extensive. They contain:
- vitamins - E, A, C, PP, choline, beta-carotene and a number of elements of group B;
- macro- and microelements - sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and in small amounts - iron, selenium, zinc and manganese;
- acids - almitic, linoleic, oleic, arachidic, stearic, etc.
100 grams contain: 1 g of protein, 6.9 g of fat, 3.1 g of carbohydrates and 2.5 g of insoluble fiber.
The rich composition explains the huge number of beneficial properties of the olive fruit. The superior quality canned olive retains its nutrients. We will consider further what benefits its use brings to the body.
Olives and black olives - what's the difference?
Olives and olives are the fruits of the same tree. They differ in the degree of maturity. Green young olives and black ripe fruits contain a lot of nutrients.
The black olives on the store shelves are of two types. Some ripen naturally on the tree, others are plucked green and artificially dyed black.
Natural black olives vary in color and can be brown, reddish, or purple. During the canning of fruits, producers do not remove the seeds, since the structure of the fruit becomes soft during processing and is not able to keep its shape.
There are some companies that color olives on purpose. In the process of a chemical reaction, the fruit turns black, then it is packaged in jars. A high content of preservatives and food colors can harm the body, so you should purchase a high-quality, proven product.
Beneficial features
The properties of olives contribute to their wide use in the food industry in canned form. They are also used fresh for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The benefits of raspberries for the body are more extensive than it might seem at first glance.
Useful properties of olives:
- Eliminate bad cholesterol, improve blood count.
- Eliminate allergic and inflammatory reactions at the cellular level.
- Improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- They remove toxins, heavy metals and toxins from the body.
- They normalize digestion, cleanse the intestines and improve microflora.
- Saturate the body with nutritional properties and energy.
The pulp of the olive fruit is enriched with many vitamins. The use of this product in food is recommended for vitamin deficiency, as well as during diets and weight loss.
The antioxidant properties contained in the olive prevent the growth of cancer cells. That makes their use especially useful for preventive purposes.
A small amount of canned olives, used in food, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and prevents the development of blood clots.
This fruit, amazing by its nature, is useful even for a child's body. It contains linoleic acid, which is essential for a healthy nervous system.
Olive oil has a healing effect:
- When applied externally, it heals wounds, cuts, burns and other skin damage.
- When taken internally, it improves the functioning of the digestive tract, rejuvenates and cleanses the body of harmful substances.
Separately, it should be said about the benefits of olives for a woman's body. This product is recommended for weight loss. Since it is during this period that a woman's body needs vitamins. They perfectly saturate, dull the feeling of hunger. They give the body a large supply of strength and energy.
It's very important to say about the benefits of canned olives seeds... Their properties are due to the healing composition. They are used for both indoor and outdoor use. For example, the people recommend swallowing one small bone when eating the fruit.
In the Mediterranean countries, eating the olive along with the bone is considered the norm: it cleanses the intestines and removes harmful substances from it. But the opinions of experts on this matter differ.
Application
Olives are widely used in various industries. The main one is the food industry. Olive fruits are canned and supplied to the world market. In our country, store shelves are full of canned olives, which differ in type, quality and manufacturer.
The oil industry produces high quality olive oil from olive fruits, which is of particular value and high demand.
Olive fruits are especially appreciated in cosmetology. Hundreds of cosmetic companies use olives to make skin and hair care products such as shampoos, creams, gels and balms.
Alternative medicine offers a variety of healthy recipes using the fruit of the olive tree.
In home cosmetology
Home cosmetology offers many recipes that include olive oil. For example, skin mask recipe: take 10 ml of olive oil and 1 tsp. lemon juice. Mix everything and apply on the face for 15 minutes. Then wash it off. The mask perfectly nourishes the skin, removes traces of fatigue, brightens and removes minor imperfections and irregularities.
You can prepare a body scrub:
- Take two tablespoons of fine sea salt.
- Mixed with two tbsp. l. olive oil and lemon juice.
- The resulting scrub is applied to steamed skin using massaging movements.
This product has a lifting effect, cleanses the deep layers of the skin. Also, the mask has an anti-cellulite effect.
For hair growth and strengthening We heat 50-60 ml of oil in a water bath (up to 35 degrees). Add 1 tbsp. l. (no top) mustard powder and one tbsp. l. mayonnaise. Mix everything well until smooth and apply to the hair. We wrap a plastic bag over our head and then wrap ourselves with a towel. We keep the mask for 15-20 minutes.
Mustard can cause slight tingling - this is normal, but if you can't stand it, then it is better to wash off the mask.
In folk medicine
Traditional medicine uses the olive for medicinal and prophylactic purposes. Some recipes include olive leaves, olive oil, or fresh olives themselves.
Folk recipe for hypertension:
- Take 45-50 grams of dried raspberry leaves.
- Fill with a liter of boiling water.
- Cover and wrap.
- Let it brew for a day, filter.
- We use 20 ml three times a day, 20 minutes before meals.
The course of treatment is two weeks. This remedy is considered an excellent remedy for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis and hypertension.
With a strong cough take one tablespoon of olive oil, one teaspoon of natural honey and one egg yolk. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until a homogeneous consistency is formed. We consume it within five days. The dosage is one dessert spoon twice a day (morning and evening).
For the remedy for ulcers, wounds and abscesses you need the pulp of a fresh olive. Grind five fruits to the state of gruel and add a spoonful of vinegar to them. Mix and apply to damaged skin areas.
We are preparing a medicinal infusion for atherosclerosis:
- Grind 200 grams of olives and put them in a thermos.
- We take olive oil and heat it to 60 degrees.
- Pour into a thermos to chopped olives.
- We insist 24 hours.
- We use the ready-made product 15-20 grams before three times a day before the main meals.
Infusion for puffiness: two tablespoons of olive leaves, grind them and pour 300 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for the whole night. We use 20 ml 2-3 times a day until complete recovery.
In cooking
The use of canned olives in cooking is explained by the unique, piquant taste of this product. Olives are found in many recipes. They are used to decorate dishes, and are also used in hot and cold appetizers, and even in salads and sauces.
Olives and olives are very beautiful outwardly. Chefs around the world use them to add aesthetics to their dishes. Their graceful, oval shape complements cold snacks and cold cuts of all kinds.
The fruits of the olive tree are combined with cheese, meat products and seafood, are included in pizza and, in combination with other ingredients, give a special piquant aroma and taste.
Also, the fruits of the olive are used to make sauces and salads. The taste of olives allows you to add a touch of piquancy and sophistication to your dishes. For example, adding olives to soup (hodgepodge or kharcho soup), you can get a very bright, pronounced taste.
Traditional "Greek salad"
To prepare everyone's favorite "Greek salad" according to the traditional recipe, you need the following ingredients:
- feta cheese (or feta cheese) - 75 g;
- tomatoes - 2 pcs.;
- long cucumbers - 1 pc;
- red onion - ¼;
- olives - 100 g;
- salad greens;
- olive oil;
- a pinch of salt;
- ground pepper and oregano.
Cut the feta cheese into cubes, the onion rings and the tomatoes into large slices. Put salad greens on a plate, pour onions, tomatoes, feta and olives on top. Next, sprinkle with olive oil, sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper. Salad ready!
Appetizing cheese pie with olives
To prepare an unusual appetizer for the festive table, you will need separate ingredients for the dough and filling.
For the test:
- butter (or margarine) - 150 g;
- wheat flour - 200 g;
- ice water - 50 ml;
- salt to taste.
For filling:
- hard cheese - 150 g;
- cottage cheese - 100 g;
- butter - 50 g;
- milk - 100 ml;
- olives or olives (pitted) - 150 g;
- eggs - 3 pcs;
- ground black pepper to taste;
Grind butter together with flour into crumbs, salt. Add water and knead the dough. Then we roll it out, put it in a baking dish and make small indentations with a fork (so that the dough does not swell when baking). Pre-grease the form with vegetable oil.
Grate the cheese and divide it into two parts. Put the first part on the dough. Then add the chopped olives. Beat eggs, mix them with cottage cheese and milk. Pour over the olives and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. We bake the cake for 30-35 minutes at 180 degrees. A sign of readiness is the ruddy bottom of the cake.
The harm of olives to the body
Canned olives, if consumed too often, can cause serious harm to the body in the form of various side effects. A very rich, salty marinade can hinder stomach function. Despite their beneficial properties, canned olives and olives have a number of contraindications:
- pregnancy and lactation;
- increased acidity of the stomach;
- gastrointestinal diseases (ulcer, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis);
- cholelithiasis;
- cystitis;
- individual intolerance;
- tendency to allergic reactions;
- obesity and overweight;
- it is also not recommended for children under 6-7 years old and for people with excessive amounts of salt in the body.
Tinned olives that contain ferrous gluconate (an oxidized substance that makes fruit black) can seriously harm the body. It is recommended to buy only high quality olives.
The daily norm for an adult is 2-3 fetuses per day. It is not recommended to consume the product daily.
Selection and storage
The main suppliers of olives and olives are Greece and Spain, less often Italy. They are usually packaged depending on the size of the fruit. The size (caliber) of the fruit is indicated on the bottom of the can. The higher the number, the larger the size.
It is very difficult to find high quality olives in our country. Mainly, canned food of medium and low quality is supplied to the counters. Accordingly, the price of the product is also low.
When choosing olives, pay attention to:
- The color should not be saturated black.
- Buy pitted olives.
- Lack of iron gluconate or E579 stabilizer.
- Shelf life.
Usually cheap brands use chemical dyes to give green olives a black, uniform hue. Natural olives are not uniform in their range and are brown or reddish in color. They are colored unevenly: paler on one side, darker on the other.
For long-term storage of olives, it is better to wash and put a glass sealed container, after sprinkling them with olive oil and lemon juice. After that, you need to twist the jar well so that the olive fruits are well saturated with oil.
It is better to store olives for no more than two weeks. It is recommended to keep an open tin can in the refrigerator for no more than three days, otherwise spoiled fruits can harm the body.
Under the hot southern sun, truly magnificent plants and trees grow, giving people their gifts invisible to the eye. A vivid confirmation of the generosity of the southern sun are olives and olives, whose benefits significantly outweigh the harm, and their calorie content does not limit consumption. The Mediterranean cuisine is replete with national dishes with these oilseeds, used in combination with vegetables, meat or pasta.
Cultivated olive or Olive tree is an olive tree that bears small fruits. They can be called both olives and olives. They differ only in ripeness. Simply put, olives are ripe olives. Speaking about the benefits and dangers of olives, we are talking about the benefits and dangers of olives, and vice versa! When asked which is healthier - olives or olives, the answer is unequivocal: they are equal in their nutritional value and properties!
It should be added that there are olive varieties (rich in oil), and there are table varieties - for consumption, mainly in canned form. Versatile olive varieties are grown for any purpose. Table olives are characterized by smaller seed pits and thicker and fleshy flesh. It is table varieties that are used for canning.
Another point that I would like to highlight is the technology of canning the fruits of olive trees. Ripe olives are sent mainly for oil production, and those black olives that we eat with pleasure are unripe fruits that are chemically processed during production.
At the same time, oxygen is supplied to the container where unripe fruits are soaked, which oxidizes them, as a result of which green olives acquire a dark color - from brown-violet to bluish-black.
One of the impressive characteristics of the olive tree is that it does not lose its health benefits when canned. Both canned and pickled, filled or not, any olives and olives are healthy! Fresh fruits are very tart, sour and tough, so they are practically unsuitable for consumption without preparation.
Olives are saturated with B vitamins - B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), folic acid (B9). They also replenish our body with choline, which prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver. In addition to the listed vitamins, olives provide our body with vitamin E in significant quantities, vitamin K (phylloquinone).
In addition to vitamins, the harvest of olive plantations replenishes our body with sodium (852 mg per 100 g!), Magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium. The trace elements necessary for a person are also sufficient: iron (3.3 mg), copper (251 μg), zinc, selenium and other trace elements. Olives are (by definition) rich in the unsaturated Omega-6 acids that interfere with and normalize metabolism.
To understand whether olives are really useful, you should know that most of the substances found in these beautiful berries are in a biologically active form. Therefore, the beneficial properties of olives are difficult to dispute, and we must consume them daily, at least a few berries a day - since their choice in retail chains is now unlimited.
Olives are fruits very resistant to various influences. They pass on their resilience to us. Our health is strengthened by adopting the resilience of these wonderful gifts of the Mediterranean.
- The product contains pectins, which are "scavengers", sweeping slag deposits, heavy metal salts and toxins from the human body. Therefore, residents of large cities, polluted with exhaust gases, should always have a jar of olives or olives in the refrigerator.
- The pulp of olive crops contains fiber, which helps to cleanse the intestines and heal the intestinal flora.
- Saturation of the product with B vitamins will help with depressive states of the psyche, bad mood, for the healing of the entire nervous system.
- Vitamin E will help women become even more beautiful, improve the functioning of the reproductive organs, and activate the body's self-healing. Eating olive fruits on a daily basis reduces the risk of breast diseases by 50%! We are talking primarily about malignant neoplasms in the breast and mastopathy.
- For women expecting the birth of a baby, to replenish the body with iron, it is imperative to eat up to 20 olive berries per day.
- Men are also recommended to eat 10-15 olives a day - to improve potency and sperm activity.
- Potassium, which has a high concentration in these magnificent small berries, contributes to the improvement of the cardiovascular system, increasing the elasticity of the capillaries.
- The complex of medicinal substances in olives, especially unsaturated fatty acids, helps to remove cholesterol from the bloodstream, prevents thrombosis and blood thickening.
- Unsaturated acids nourish cells, repair damaged membranes, and thereby strengthen our immune system.
- Scientists have proven that olive products contain a complex of natural elements that prevent the formation of malignant neoplasms and inhibit their growth.
- Olives are rich in calcium in a bioactive form, which is why they are useful for strengthening bone tissue.
The consumption rate of olives for healthy people is 7-8 fruits per day, and for active and vital people or people involved in sports - up to 15 pcs. per day.
Olive pits, the benefits of which have been proven many times over, are just as healthy a product as the pulp of the fruit.
The main benefit that the use of seeds can bring (even without crushing them) is to remove sand and stones from the kidneys, gall or bladder. It is enough to eat 10-15 olives with a bone twice a day (on an empty stomach). Tartar also dissolves if you eat (swallow) whole or crushed olive pits.
Surprisingly, the benefits of olives seeds for the intestines are undeniable! They, like a panicle, clean out stale feces and toxins from the intestines. The stomach digests the drupes as well as the pulp! Therefore, for constipation, intestinal atony, olive pits with pulp are a real medicine!
The seeds of the fruit of olive trees help in the complex treatment of sore muscles and damaged ligaments, as well as pain associated with a pinched nerve. It is recommended to eat them for the prevention or treatment of osteochondrosis.
The crushed olive pits are used as a scrub for the skin of the body and face.
The harm of olives
Any canned product cannot be eaten in unlimited quantities! This harm of canned food must be taken into account, since we only eat canned olives. They contain a lot of salt, which can negatively affect your well-being. It is undesirable to eat olive berries with diarrhea and cholecystitis (acute stage).
Calorie content of olives
Olives, which have a caloric content of only 143 kcal, are a dietary product due to their healing effects on the human body.
Medium-sized canned olives have an even lower calorie content of 100 g - 115 calories. Typically, olives are packed in 165 g net cans, and a whole can of canned olives has only 190 calories. Eat to your health!
- Decorating dishes
Olives have a very beautiful appearance, which chefs around the world are actively using to decorate a huge number of various dishes. Their universal shape, density allows you to make beautiful slicing of any kind.
- Hot and cold soups
Olive berries add flavor to any soup. Solyanka, kharcho soup - ideal only with olives! Add at least a few fruits of the olive tree to any hot or cold soup, you get a dish with an unusually bright taste!
- Salads and sauces
The fruit of olive trees as a salad ingredient will make any salad very spicy! Greek salad, vegetable, meat or seafood - olive crops will be in place everywhere! Black berries in combination with cheese have a particularly bright taste, therefore, if there is cheese in the salad, then olives must be there!
Pasta sauces often contain olives - a national feature of Mediterranean cuisine. In general, sauces, gravies, dressings, ornaments are often accompanied by the fruits of olive trees. Black olives are served with meat and poultry, they are harmoniously combined with white wines. Green olives are served with fish and seafood, they are better suited for red wines. These oilseeds go well with cheese.
Basically, you can find canned olives on sale from two countries: Spain and Greece, less often from Italy. At the bottom of the jar, the size of the fruit is indicated through a fraction - the minimum and maximum number of fruits in 1 kg. Those. the smaller the caliber numbers, the larger the fruits. The gradation is approximately the following (depending on the manufacturing plant):
Very large fruits - from 70/90 to 101/110;
Large - from 111/120 to 141/160;
Medium - from 161/180 to 231/260;
Small - from 261/290 to 351/380.
Knowing this indicator, you can choose the berry size that suits your goals.
In the consumer market of post-Soviet countries, it is very difficult to find high quality olive crops that are not chemically processed to give them a juicy black color. As we wrote above, the black color of olives indicates their ripeness, but in a can of canned food there may be olives processed with the stabilizer E579, but not ripe.
Ferrous gluconate is a chemical compound (only these numbers can be shown on the can) that prevents oxidized olives from regaining their green color. Those. the jar that lists this ingredient is not olives, but stabilized green olives.
Often retail chains offer the fruits of olive trees not in cans, but in bulk in containers. In this case, it is easier to determine their quality: ripe fruits are colored unevenly, for example, on one side they are dark purple or brown, and on the other - paler or green. Olives ripen unevenly, like any fruit or berry. If you see such a product on sale, buy it - here are natural olives, which bring health to your house.
As for the canned product, read the label before buying and avoid artificially blackened fruits - there is very little benefit! Although marketers with manufacturers prove to us that iron gluconate is completely harmless to humans and even replenishes our body with iron, solving problems with low hemoglobin. You decide!
If you bought oilseeds of the weight category, then ask the store staff about the deadline for consumption. But how can you rely on the honesty of our salespeople? Rinse the fruits at home, put them in a clean glass jar and pour over a few tablespoons of olive oil and lemon juice. Close the jar and twist it in your hands several times in different directions to distribute the oil and juice. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
The shelf life of open canned food with olives is up to 3 days, although here we also recommend transferring the berries to a glass container, if the can is made of tin.
We examined in detail how olives are useful, whether they are harmful, their calorie content and their use in cooking. By choosing your favorite brand of product and using it every day in various dishes, you will very soon notice an improvement in your well-being and a surge of vitality!