Top 5 Olive Misconceptions

Here at Freestyle Snacks, we pride ourselves not only on producing delicious olives but also on being olive experts. Part of what makes our olives so delicious is that we’ve read up on olive fun facts galore to make sure we’re well-informed enough to create a premium olive product. 

It’s important to us to share what we’ve learned about olives with our fellow olive lovers. Whether scrolling through Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, or any other platform, we’ve found plenty of ~salty~ discourse surrounding olives. We know olives aren’t for everyone, but for those who understand the olive hype, we want to clear up some olive misconceptions so you can enjoy this delicious snack guilt-free. 

So, without further ado, here are the top five olive misconceptions debunked!

Misconception #1: Olives are a vegetable.

To start off, we thought we’d clear up what olives are and where they come from. Olives are in fact not a vegetable. They’re actually a fruit! Olives grow on trees primarily in the Mediterranean region. The largest producers of olives in the world include Spain, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, and of course, Greece where Freestyle Snacks olives come from!

Misconception #2: Olives are fattening.

Contrary to popular belief, olives can actually help you control your weight. Many nutritionists and health experts recommend consuming olives because they are filled with healthy fats, mainly oleic acid. Oleic acid has numerous health benefits including decreased inflammation and reduced risk of heart disease. Additionally, olives contain lots of fiber, which keeps you full for longer.

Misconception #3: Olives increase cholesterol.

It turns out that olives are actually low in cholesterol. Also, they can help you lower your low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is the “bad” cholesterol that often comes from saturated fat. Lastly, olives are high in Vitamin E, a vitamin known to reduce cholesterol levels and prevent cholesterol build up.

Misconception #4: Olives contain a lot of salt, which is bad for you.

We all know olives are the ultimate salty snack. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. When you exercise, it’s important to replenish the electrolytes you’ve lost. One of the easiest ways to do so is by consuming salt. Salt contains the electrolytes sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium, which are essential to your body’s normal functioning. So, who’s throwing a Freestyle Snacks pouch in their workout bag for safe keeping?

Misconception #5: You can reap the benefits of olives by consuming olive oil.

It’s common to hear someone say that they like olive oil but not olives, but don’t be fooled into thinking the two are comparable. Whole olives have more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than olive oil, making them the healthier and preferable choice. Who wants to snack on olive oil anyway? 😉

So, there you have it. We hope we’ve cleared up some olive misconceptions you might’ve held or have at least opened your eyes to how healthy olives can truly be. The next time you hear an olive lover refusing to snack on olives because they think they’re unhealthy, send them our way!