Marinate your gut with a natural antibacterial
Knowing the health benefits behind olive oil, I’m sure you keep your kitchen stocked with a bottle of it. Stick with that allegiance, as yet another potential health benefit of olive oil is on the horizon.
Every year, there are millions of cases of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. The underlying culprits are little bacteria with a big name: Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori for short. This bacteria, picked up probably through food or water, causes an infection of the stomach lining, allowing acid to seep through, which causes an ulcer.
And not everyone who has H. pylori actually shows symptoms of infection. The trick is to keep the bacteria in control. A study is about to take place to test the efficacy of extra-virgin olive oil, which is known to have antibacterial properties. Preliminary research shows that it has an inhibitive effect on eight strains of H. pylori—even some antibiotic-resistant strains!
You know my stance on this: Whenever possible, look to your own cupboards for remedies that don’t have nasty side effects, especially considering all of the ill effects and controversy with antibiotics and their overuse. I would much prefer a dish of anything with a dash of olive oil to the option of a bottled medication any day!
