Stronger body for athletes, through olive oil.
The actual benefit of exercising is in recovery. It is then that the body, having lost fluids, depleted its energy reserves and suffered normal muscle tissue micro-injuries, begins the repair, rehabilitation and muscle growth, resulting in the body becoming somewhat stronger than before. Olive oil can help protect muscles during exercise and promote the growth process, because:
- It helps cells absorb cholesterol and convert it into testosterone, more than other fats. Testosterone is essential for muscle building but also for increasing energy levels. [Lipids, issue 44, Article no.: 345]
- The fatty acids it contains directly affect the synthesis of anabolic hormones inside the body, therefore of testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) too, and affect the development of muscle mass.
- The accumulation of lactic acid is what causes the heavy, painful sensation in the muscles after a workout and is a natural result of excess pyruvate, a byproduct of the breakdown of glucose. According to a patent of Dutch inventors, “The intake of hydroxytyrosol in the form of olive extract reduces the amount of lactic acid in the plasma, the body and the muscle cells”. Additionally, it can increase glutathione levels, thus enhancing the body's natural antioxidant mechanisms, given that glutathione acts as an antioxidant in cells, by inhibiting the increase of free radicals.
Bone health: Oleic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds in olive oil all work together for the development of bone tissue and for the reparation of bone density protecting against fractures and injuries.
