What Are the Health Benefits of Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil?

Courtesy of
HealthyLiving.AZCentral.com
   Balsamic vinegar and olive oil both contain antioxidants that may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease; and, they have different nutritional strengths. 

   Olive oil is a good source of vitamins K and E, as well as healthy unsaturated fats. Balsamic Vinegar is low in calories and may help lower your blood sugar, according to the “European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.”

Basics
   Authentic balsamic vinegar is made from specific Italian grapes -- Trebbiano or Lambrusco -- that are aged for at least 12 years in wooden barrels. The resulting vinegar is dark, thick, slightly sweet and very expensive. 

   Commercially prepared balsamic vinegars are quickly fermented, usually contain additional ingredients and don’t have the same rich, complex flavor. 

   Olive oil production is regulated to ensure that extra-virgin olive oil is cold-pressed and made only from high-quality olives. Plain olive oil tastes bland by comparison because it’s made from low-quality olives and uses chemical solvents to extract the oil.

Healthy Fats
   One tablespoon of olive oil has 119 calories and 13.5 grams of fat. About 73 percent of those fats are monounsaturated and another 10 percent are polyunsaturated. & ...

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