7 Surprising Health Benefits of Kalamata Olives

Black and green olives have been a part of our diets for a long time. But have you ever heard about kalamata olives? Kalamata olives appear large and dark brown in color and have a meaty and smooth texture. When they are ripe, they are dark purple in color. They are either preserved in vinegar or olive oil and are usually served as table olives. They are named after kalamata city, Greece. There they were found thousands of years back due to which they are also called greek black olives. Kalamata olives are usually sweet and fruity in taste. They have a much milder taste when compared to black olives. But they still hold the sharpness of taste that we generally associate with olives.

# Strengthens bones

Kalamata olives are rich in calcium. So they help in improving bone density and can also protect from other bones related issues. They also protect bones from easy breakage and fractures.

# Good for heart

There is a presence of hydroxytyrosol in these olives. It is good for the heart and it also reduces the risk of heart diseases. They also control your cholesterol and put the functioning of your heart on track.

# Beneficial against Alzheimer’s

Some of the components of kalamata olives help in building nerve cells. Due to this, they can reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. It’s also beneficial against other memory-related issues as well.

# Good for dental health

The presence of calcium in our food is really necessary for our teeth and olives are rich in calcium. So they help in protecting our teeth from decay and maintains good dental health. They’re really good for children.

# Enables proper functioning of the body

Being rich in iron, kalamata olives helps in the proper function of the body. Iron is required to carry out many small and big functions of the body like helps muscles to store and use oxygen.

# Improves skin health

One of the components of kalamata olives is oleuropein. That helps in protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet b rays of the sun. It also improves skin health in general.

# Full of anti-oxidants

These greek black olives have polyphenols in abundance. It is a type of anti-oxidant. So it fights against radicals in body and also reduces the risk of some chronic disease.

Doctors and nutritionists term it as the healthiest type of olive and one of the healthiest foods on the planet in general.