Olives have long ceased to be considered an exotic product. These fruits have settled in our refrigerators regardless of holidays, seasons, and so on. What are the benefits of canned black olives? Due to their high content of vitamins and minerals, they normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, remove toxins and improve general condition. With this product you can prepare any dish, from simple vegetable salads to homemade pizza or stuffed chicken. Almost every housewife has a favorite and time-tested recipe using olives in her arsenal of culinary skills.
In this article we will tell you about the benefits of canned olives and their harm to our body. In addition, you will learn about the composition of the product and its energy value. We will also figure out how to choose the right jar of olives, how to store it and what dishes it can be used for.
Differences between olives and black olives
Did you know that olives and olives are the fruits of the same plant? They differ from each other only in their degree of maturity. Fresh fruits are not eaten. Why? Because they have a pronounced bitter taste and are unlikely to please anyone. Often, to prepare a particular dish, only canned olives and black olives are used. But we'll talk about this a little later.
Such fruits grow on an evergreen tree - olive. Once they turn green, they are picked and sent to various manufacturing plants. There they go through the processing stage and are marinated. Lastly, the fruits are canned and sent to all countries.
The remaining olives on the tree gradually ripen and change their hue to red, purple and brown. Sometimes they turn black and look completely unappetizing. The fact is that black olives ripen and slowly shrink.
Some very cunning producers do not wait for the olives to fully ripen, but subject the olives to various heat treatments. In order to give them a characteristic shade, the fruits are poured into specially designed containers and oxygen is supplied inside. Thus, the oxidation process occurs and then the fruits are treated with iron gluconate. Just like olives, they are canned and prepared for sale.
To avoid falling for the tricks of irresponsible manufacturers, you need to carefully consider the product you buy. Real and high-quality olives have an uneven black tint, mixed with red, purple and brown. This is due to the degree of uneven ripening.
Where do they grow
Previously, olive trees could be found in the Mediterranean. These countries are considered the birthplace of the exotic fruit. Recently, it has become so popular that European olive trees are grown in India, Australia, Asia, North and South America, and Africa.
Spain is considered the main supplier of olives in the world - approximately 50% of the total turnover. The main olive growing areas are Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha, Extremadura, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands.
Chemical composition of olives
The benefits and harms to the body of canned olives are influenced by the chemical composition. Thanks to this, our body receives the necessary vitamins and minerals.
What is contained in olives:
- vitamins A, B, E and K;
- potassium;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- sodium;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- copper;
- zinc;
- selenium;
- cellulose;
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids;
- pectin;
- catechin;
- phytosterols.
As you can see for yourself, the composition of such a product is very rich.
Energy value
Before moving on to the benefits of canned black olives, we will look at their nutritional value. The final caloric content of several manufacturers may differ depending on the degree of processing, various impurities, and so on. Therefore, we will give you the average content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in a similar product per 100 grams.
Energy value:
- proteins - 0.84 grams;
- fats - 10.68 grams;
- carbohydrates - 3.06 grams;
- calories - 115 kcal.
Now you know how many calories are in canned olives.
Beneficial features
Now that we have studied in detail what olives are and what their composition is, we can move on to the next section. Thanks to vitamins A, B and E, such a product has a positive effect on the human body. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids nourish our hair, nails and skin, restoring its healthy and attractive appearance.
The properties of canned olives are as follows:
- cleansing the body of toxic compounds, waste and heavy metal salts;
- normalization of the digestive tract;
- an effective means of combating persistent constipation;
- restoration of nervous system activity;
- decrease in cholesterol concentration;
- maintaining an optimal balance of vital elements;
- preventing the appearance of sand and stones in the gall bladder and kidneys;
- prophylactic against prostatitis and impotence;
- increasing the level of energy in our body and vitality;
- stops the process of natural aging;
- improving the condition of nails and hair;
- olives accelerate the process of skin regeneration and restore its healthy appearance;
- prevention of malignancies and cancerous tumors;
- strengthening the heart muscle and blood vessels;
- restoration of normal blood composition;
- normalization of the liver and gall bladder;
- Olives have an antihistamine effect on the human body.
In addition, olives improve vision, memory and concentration.
Beneficial effect on the female body
The benefits of canned olives and black olives for women are described below:
- as mentioned earlier, these products improve the condition of hair, skin and nails;
- quick saturation of the body;
- an effective remedy in the fight against excess weight;
- nutrition and saturation of the female body with vitamins and minerals during pregnancy or while breastfeeding;
- have a beneficial effect on the reproductive system.
Canned olives, the benefits of which are described just above, can be eaten either as a separate product or used in the preparation of various dishes. But we will return to this later.
Is it possible to eat olive pits?
The fruits of the olive tree are eaten entirely together with nuts. It is recommended to eat 3 to 5 pieces per day without heat treatment. The maximum monthly norm is 15 olives.
After entering the stomach, the drupe is completely processed, exerting a beneficial effect as a sorbent on intestinal activity.
All unique beneficial properties are preserved in canned olive tree fruits. Considering these features, it is recommended to regularly include olives with pits in the menu, having first studied the list under which conditions their consumption is prohibited.
This will allow the body to receive many important compounds that help improve overall health.
Harm of this product
Like any other product, olives can harm our body. You can include such fruits in your diet only in limited quantities. Canned olives also bring benefits in quantities of 2-3 pieces.
Those people who suffer from cholecystitis due to the choleretic effect provoked by the described fruits should limit their consumption of olives. Consumers with kidney disease or hypertension should also use caution when adding olives to their diet.
When choosing olives, you should not buy rich black fruits that have a uniform shade. In most cases, such a product has been subjected to chemical treatment, which is fraught with various consequences for our body.
Contraindications
Olives undoubtedly bring benefits, but due to the fact that they contain a lot of fatty acids and salt, there is a category of people for whom the use of the product should be kept to a minimum.
Use is prohibited when:
- Diseases of the genitourinary system, cystitis;
- Gastritis with high acidity;
- Children under 3 years old;
- Gallstone disease, liver stones;
- Pancreatitis;
- Cholecystitis;
- Stomach ulcer;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Obesity;
- Hypertension.
Before including olives in your daily diet, you should consult your doctor. The product cannot cause harm to health if consumed in a regulated manner.
How to choose canned olives?
Before adding a similar product to your cart, you need to check the country of origin and expiration dates. If you have the opportunity to check olives for their characteristic shade, do not hesitate to use it. As we mentioned earlier, some olive producers often process olives by chemically treating them and then passing them off as olives.
Real and high-quality olives will never have a uniform shade. The color of the product smoothly transitions from black to purple, with an admixture of red and brown tints. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the integrity of the packaging. In most cases, such products are sold in a tin jar with a convenient lid. The container should not be swollen or have any other damage.
The size of the olives is sometimes indicated on the packaging. These are hyphenated numbers. Thanks to this value, you can find out the number of fruits per 100 grams of the finished product. The higher the number, the smaller the size of the olives.
And lastly, consider the fruits themselves. They should not have various inclusions and incomprehensible cuts. In this way, you will protect yourself and your family from purchasing low-quality and damaged goods.
The benefits of canned olives also depend on how high-quality the product is, so try to follow our advice to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Application in cosmetology
Olives - black and green - are actively used in cosmetology. Some cosmetic brands include these gifts of nature in their products.
These are the German cosmetics D'oliva, the Greek company Bioselect, the “Sunny Olives” series from TianDe. These products are suitable for dry and sensitive skin . They moisturize it, make it elastic, smooth out wrinkles.
Olive oil is a truly indispensable product in cosmetology . It is used to solve a wide range of problems with the skin of the face, body, and hair. It can simply be added to factory-made cosmetics, enriching them. The product can be used in its pure form.
They wipe the skin of the face with it and apply it to the hair . In many homemade mask recipes, olive oil is the main ingredient. It is combined with other ingredients: honey, egg, essential oils. For the skin, this means high-quality hydration, nutrition, and preservation of elasticity. Oil gives shine to hair, makes it healthy and silky.
You can use olive oil during pregnancy and lactation. It can be rubbed into the skin of the abdomen, chest, thighs - this prevents stretch marks.
Olives are a very valuable product for health. Choose and use them correctly and you will only benefit.
Pizza recipe with olives, vegetables and mushrooms
Required Products:
- champignons - 200 grams;
- cherry tomatoes - 1 sprig;
- package of ready-made yeast dough - 450 grams;
- ketchup or tomato paste - as needed;
- olives - 10-12 pcs.;
- hard “Dutch” cheese - 200 grams;
- bell pepper - 2 pcs.;
- onions - 1 pc.;
- vegetable oil for frying.
Cooking method:
- First you need to defrost the dough.
- Then wash the mushrooms and cut them into thin slices.
- Fry in vegetable oil until half cooked.
- Now we clean the onion and chop it into rings.
- Cut the tomatoes into small circles.
- Cut the stem off the peppers and remove the core.
- We divide them into oblong pieces.
- Cover a baking sheet with parchment and transfer the dough onto it.
- Lubricate the base with tomato paste or ketchup.
- Place a layer of champignons, tomatoes and peppers.
- Add onion rings and olives, cut in half.
- Sprinkle everything with grated cheese and place in the oven until done.
This pizza can be decorated with arugula or basil.
