Where are olives from?
There are over 800 million olive trees planted worldwide. There are more olive trees and people in Greece. It is estimated over 170 million trees are planted in Greece, while the population is only about 10.4 million people.
The average life of an olive tree is between 300 and 600 years. One of the oldest olive trees in the world is on the island of Crete in Greece. It is about 4,000 years old and is still producing olives. People who live in southern European countries like Italy, Greece or Portugal consume olives and olive oil every day.
Why are olives so crucial in the Mediterranean diet?
Olives are packed with nutrients and have lots of health benefits:
- Rich in antioxidants
- Rich in vitamins
- Cholesterol-free
- Source of healthy mono-saturated fats
- Low calorie
- Low in saturated fats
The vitamins and antioxidants found in olives may provide essential health benefits.
Olives are a great source of vitamin E, which can improve skin health and help your immune system.
Some studies have shown that olives may protect against osteoporosis, in which bones weaken.
