What is an olive? An olive is a fruit (yes, a fruit) grown mainly in Greece and Spain. Although olives are technically fruits, they are used more like a vegetable in cooking.
The difference between green and black olives is simple. Ripe olives are black. Unripe olives are green.
Due to their ripeness, black olives are not as bitter as green olives. One of the most common uses of olives is to make olive oil, a healthy alternative to cooking oils.
Black and green olives do have health benefits. One serving of olives (1 ounce; about 7 large olives) is low in calories and contains about three grams of fat.
The fats found in olives are the “good” fats, omega-3 and omega-6, which are full of rich antioxidants.
Olives have near zero sugar and cholesterol[cholesterol diet] which is good; however they also have near zero protein and vitamins. A serving of olives also contains one gram of dietary fiber.
The biggest drawback to consuming olives is that they are extremely high in sodium, with over 200 milligrams per serving. If you are watching your sodium intake, you may want to eliminate olives from your diet.
Overall, olives are a good food to add to your diet occasionally. Other than the high sodium content, olives are a low-calorie snack or meal addition that can add variety to your diet.
