Olives (Zaytun) have numerous health benefits, including being rich in Vitamins (in particular Vitamin E), minerals, monounsaturated fats, and anti-oxidants. They are full of nutritional value, helping to fight against a number of critical diseases; including cancer, arthritis, osteoprosis, constipation, inflammation and asthma. It isn’t any wonder that Allah (Ta’ala) has sworn by the Olive in the Qur’an;
“By the Fig and the Olive, and the Mount of Sinai…”
[Surah at-Teen; 95: 1-2]
The Prophet used to recommend olives and saffron in cases of pleurisy, and he used to say that olives are the medicine of the poor.
In another tradition Muhammad said “Eat olive oil and anoint yourself with it” [at-Tirmidhi].
Saied al-Ansari narrates that the Prophet said,
“Eat the olive oil and massage it over your bodies since it is a blessed tree.”
[at-Tirmidhi, ibn Maja]
Indeed, Allah Ta’ala has mentioned the Olive tree as being blessed as well;
“a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous..”
[surah 24: 35]
Abu Hurairah RadiAllahu Ta’ala anhu narrates that the Prophet stated, “Eat the olive oil and apply it (locally), since there is cure for seventy diseases in it, one of them is Leprosy.”
[abu Naim]
And now a Mediterranean style diet, one rich in fruits and vegetables, supplemented with olive oil for two years, may have a protective effect on your bones, suggests a Spanish study.
Age-related bone mass loss and decreased bone strength affects women and men alike, and are important determinants of the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Studies have shown that the incidence of osteoporosis in Europe is lower in the Mediterranean basin. The traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, with a high intake of olives and olive oil could be one of the factors underlying this difference, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reports.
“The intake of olive oil has been related to the prevention of osteoporosis in experimental and in vitro (lab) models,” said Jose Manuel Fernandez-Real, from Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta in Girona, Spain, who led the study.
“This is the first randomised study which demonstrates that olive oil preserves bone, at least as inferred by circulating bone markers, in humans,” added Fernandez-Real. (A randomized study is a clinical trial in which all patients are assigned randomly to be in experimental group), according to a Josep Trueta statament.
The study participants were 127 community-dwelling men aged 55 to 80 years randomly selected from one of the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea (Predimed) study centres who had at least two years of follow-up.
The Predimed study is a large, parallel group, randomised, controlled trial aimed to assess the effect of the Mediterranean diet on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.