Alkaline Fruit: Mineral Rich Olives

Olives and Health

That’s right, olives are technically a fruit! In fact, they are one of the most mineral rich fruits on Earth. Olives are especially high in calcium and magnesium which help to build strong bones. They also contain vitamins A and E and the beautifying, heart healthy oleic acid.

Olives also contain protein and compounds called polyphenols which display anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Plus, olives are known as the most powerful mucus dissolver of any fruit. Too much mucus in your system can cause that cold/flu-like feeling of being clogged and stuffy with puffy eyes and dulled senses. Regular consumption of olives can help to clear out excess mucus and lift the fog.

Olives and Fats
 

What To Do With Olives

No salad is complete without olives. Pit them, chop them up and sprinkle them on your greens. At Sunfood we like to use olives as the “meat” of many dishes. For example we like to use them as the “meatballs” in raw pasta dishes. The texture of olives is very satisfying and is great for helping those new to raw foods get that “full” feeling. In fact, olives contain a protein-to-fat ratio that is similar to red meat, but none of the cholesterol.

The Sunfood Difference

Did you know that most olives are picked long before they are truly ripe and can even be softened with chemicals such as lye? Some olives are artificially darkened with an iron compound called ferrous gluconate and all canned olives are pasteurized (cooked). Our olives are picked when ripe and only cured using traditional and natural methods, such as sea salt brining and oil curing.