THE MANY USES OF OLIVE OIL

THE MANY USES OF OLIVE OIL (from Yahoo!Green)

I've been so fascinated when I read that olive oil can help you with weight loss and even hair loss, that's why I spent a whole afternoon reading materials on the many uses of this wonderful oil. There were also studies and researched materials as to its other uses, but then collating them all  will take a lot of my time and my blog space. Anyhow, it's much more exciting if you can do the search yourself, and be surprised like me. I've listed here some of the most common uses so read on...

The legendary Olive Oyl

Olive oil is more than a cartoon character, a historic symbol of peace and glory,or a food staple of the much-vaunted Mediterranean diet. 

Health Benefits. Much have been said about the health benefits of cooking with olive oil. Olive oil promotes "good" cholesterol (HDL), is known to be gentle on the digestive system, and even may help prevent gallstones and soothe ulcers. Good quality olive oil contains valuable vitamins and nutrients, and it is loaded with antioxidants, which many believe help protect the body from cancer. 

Cooking With Olive Oil

HOME REMEDIES USING OLIVE OIL

We're most familiar with olive oil in relation to cooking, but there's so many other ways it can be used; often avoiding the need to use chemicals, compounds and substances that aren't very environmentally friendly. Plus, you don't even need to use the best grade of olive oil.

-- Use to prevent streaks, corrosion, and tarnish. After polishing copper or brass, rub it with a little olive oil to slow down the recurrence of tarnisg. If using as a stainless steel cleaner; please apply sparingly.

-- To prevent rusting, dip a razor into olive oil after use to prevent the blade rusting. Coat garden tool blades with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent dirt sticking to them and also to help prevent rusting. This works really well!

-- For use as an alternative lubricant for de-squeaking hinges, hinges, and anywhere else you might consider using lubricant.

-- Olive oil can help unjam zippers - use a cotton bud to apply.

-- To polish your wooden furniture and objects, use two parts olive oil mixed with one part lemon juice. Pour just a few drops on a soft cloth, wipe away the dust, scuffs, and fingerprints, and your desk will shine.

-- To help prevent cracking, repel staining and marking of wooden cutting boards, just rub olive oil into it.

-- To remove paint from hair or skin, dab a cotton ball dipped in olive to the affected area.

-- Old leather can be made more supple by rubbing in olive oil (spot test first). Apply a little olive oil to your shoes to restore their shine.  You can also condition and revitalize leather goods, such as baseball mitts, by rubbing in olive oil. Let set for 30 minutes, then wipe away any excess.

HOMEMADE SKIN AND PERSONAL BODY CARE

-- Soak your finger nails in warm olive oil to soften cuticles and strengthen brittle nails. Best to rub into fingernails before and after manicuring.
--As moisturizer for dry areas of your body.  Rub olive oil on the dry spots. A small amount will do and can be used on chapped lips, dry feet or anywhere else you want to moisturize.

    Olive oil can also be used in baths to help soften the skin. Mix the olive oil with other essential oils like lavender for a special treat. Without the greasiness, mix a few drops in the palm of your hand with a few drops of fresh lemon juice (vitamin c from lemon helps rejuvenate too). Apply evenly on wet skin after bath.

-- As substitute for hair conditioner, use a small amount of olive oil after shampooing. A mixture of a few drops of olive oil and lemon juice when used as a hair cream conditions hair without too much grease.

-- Cure for ear ache.  Heat up some olive oil in a microwave for 30 seconds then apply it to the ear that hurts for relief–"very carefully use a cotton swab to apply olive oil to the outside ear cavity to help with earaches and excess wax."

-- As replacement for shaving cream or shaving oil. The oil will soften whiskers or hair and give you a close, smooth shave. Men with sensitive skin can also use the oil on their beards.

-- Use as a makeup remover. Dab a small amount of olive oil on a cotton ball or pad. Even mascara will come off easily.

-- Use to ease snoring. Would you believe that taking a sip of olive oil before heading to bed can help lubricate your throat muscles, cutting down on snoring? Others have noted that downing a teaspoon of olive oil can help soothe a scratchy or ticklish throat.

For Weight Loss:  
Drinking olive oil to lose weight is a good option when compared to following any diet plan. The diets make us control our taste buds in order to lose weight, which most of the people cannot do. But, drinking olive oil to lose weight does not have any such restrictions and thus achieving the ideal weight gets easier.

At breakfast- It’s very simple as you just have to include it in your breakfast. 1 tablespoon of olive oil can be taken with juice or a glass of milk. You can also have it with your favorite fruit or a bowl of oats. Since breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, one should not miss it.

At the lunch time- Drinking olive oil to lose weight during lunch time is also very effective. Before having your lunch, mix one tablespoon of olive oil with one tablespoon of lemon in a glass of water and sip it.

Evening snack- Olive oil is a major component of Mediterranean diet which is considered to be one of the healthy diets. One tablespoon of olive oil mixed with water, benefits the body immensely. Doing so will prevent you from unnecessarily munching on junk foods also.

For Hair Loss Treatment

Hair loss usually causes a gradual loss of hair from the crown of the scalp, causing a broadened midline parting. It may also recede from the forehead, resulting in the classic ‘widow’s peak’.

-  Heat a mixture of 2 tbsps. of extra virgin olive oil, with 1tbsp of coconut oil, in a bowl in the microwave for about 30 secs.
-  Take a small amount of this mixture in your palm and with your fingertips, apply it on your scalp and hair.
-  Massage your scalp lightly for 15 mins. Remember not to pull the hair while massaging as it might increase the amount of hair that you are losing.
-  Post massaging, take a shower cap and cover your head with it. Leave the oil on the hair overnight or for minimum 4 hours. This helps in better absorption of oil by the scalp and the hair.
-  In the morning, wash your hair with a mild shampoo or with a medicated shampoo. People who are suffering from hair loss should always dilute the shampoo with water and then apply it on the hair and scalp, rather than applying directly, as all shampoos contain chemicals, and these chemicals, when they come in direct contact with the scalp, can weaken the hair roots and thus, cause further hair loss.

-  However, if this is not possible, apply the oil and let it stay for half an hour to one hour, before you wash it off with a good shampoo and conditioner.

Hair oil massage should be done at least three times a week to achieve best results.

For Dry and Damaged Hair

Olive oil (extra virgin) is the perfect solution for your problem. It is also good to fix frizzy or static hair. Extra virgin olive oil is an excellent moisturizer for dry hair.

• Brush you hair and part it with a comb. Apply olive oil preferably heated in the microwave for 20 secs or warm, on your hair with your fingertips. Make sure that you are not using your nails for the task.
• Dip the fingertips in the bowl and gently massage the scalp, on both sides of the parting.
• Now, make a new parting at a distance of about one or two inches from the first one and repeat the massaging process until the entire scalp is covered. You have to apply some oil on the hair too.
• You have to cover your head with a towel, in order to keep it warm (or use hair dryer), so that the oil can be absorbed for about 30 minutes to one hour.
• Then, unwrap the cover and wash your hair with a mild shampoo. As the hair is oily, you may need more amount of shampoo than you normally use.
• For better results, you may steam your hair, before washing it. This is beneficial in preventing the occurrence of dandruff.

Once your hair is dry, you will be able to feel the difference. It will be more smooth, silky and shiny and also easy to manage. Olive oil hair treatment can offer good results, provided you repeat it once every week.

For silky soft hands:

Exfoliate  Mix extra virgin olive oil with all-natural sea salt. Rub your hands together and exfoliate. Wash off mixture.

Moisturize Before you go to sleep, rub on a liberal amount of olive oil. Get cotton gloves. Slip on cotton gloves over hands. Go to sleep. Wash hands in the morning. Rinse hands with warm water. Apply a fresh dose of olive oil onto your hands and use as moisturizer during the day.

Pet Care.  According to curbly.com, adding a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat’s food helps prevent hairballs, as well as promote a shiny, healthy coat. Olive oil is likely to be more gentle on a cat's system than petroleum-based anti-hairball lubricants. Plus, it has the benefit of coming from a renewable resource, as opposed to oil from the ground.