Olive oil is considered to be one of the most beneficial oils for cooking along with manufacturing beauty and wellness products.
But, apart from its various advantages, it also comes with certain drawbacks that can cause significant damage to your health.
Below are 7 unexpected side-effect of olive oil.
1. Saturated fat-related diseases
Olive oil is a rich source of monosaturated fat, which can be broken down into 14% saturated fat and 120 calories. Using only 2 tablespoons of this oil in a serving means intake of a large amount of saturated fatty acids. This is almost 3 times higher than that of a 4 oz chicken breast. And this saturated fat can increase the risks of lethal diseases like atherosclerosis, obesity, heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer, and so on.
2. Trans-fat related diseases
Most of the olive oil, which we use in cooking are like other processed foods. They are refined or partially hydrogenated under high heat and pressure. This process alters the molecular structure of the olives. It also burns the healthy omega-3 fatty acid content in olives. It affects the cholesterol levels in our bloodstream by decreasing �good cholesterol’ and increasing the �bad’ one. This, in the long run, raises the danger of cardiovascular diseases.
3. Low blood sugar
It might sound a bit strange, but olive oil can actually lower your blood sugar below the normal level. The consumption of it can make you prone to several health complications. Some of them are hypoglycemia, sweating, trembling, weakness, etc. Limiting its intake is recommended for diabetics.
4. Low blood pressure
Olive oil is known to keep our heart healthy. But, studies have found that overconsumption of olive can cause a massive fall in blood pressure. It is detrimental for our overall health as we become vulnerable to a number of issues. Some of the issues are dizziness, lightheadedness, stroke, kidney failure, etc.
5. Inflammation
Being loaded with fat, olive oil increases the chances of developing inflammation in our body. It contains 78% oleic acid. This acid plays a key role in releasing the lipopolysaccharides, appended to the huge fat-rich lipoprotein particles named chylomicrons, from the gut into the bloodstream. The more the LPS present in the blood, the higher the extent of inflammation caused by the immune cells.
6. Gallbladder stones / blockage
Obese people should stay away from ingesting too much olive oil as it may block the gallbladder or cause painful gall stones. Our liver produces bile, which is accumulated inside the gallbladder. But, when our body holds excess fat, and we include olive oil in our daily diet, this stored bile starts to secrete and emulsify the fats. It ultimately results in stones or blockage.
7. Diarrhea
The high fat content of olive oil may cause digestive disorders and trigger gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. When we consume it in large amounts, our system becomes unable to digest it completely. As a result, we develop minor to moderate diarrhea. Being a natural laxative, oil sometimes makes the situation worse.
8. Weight gain
There is a myth that olive oil is a healthier alternative to other conventional cooking oil, and it is extremely helpful in maintaining the ideal body weight. Yet, the truth is that it is a fat-rich food that actually contributes to our body weight. Unnecessary weight gain is one of the major side effects of too much olive oil consumption.
