Olives: Tiny fruit, big benefits

Do you know that olives are in the fruit family? How about this: The olive, like the oil, is great for you.

Yep, olives are fruits. And they're bursting with benefits too. They've got antioxidants, monounsaturated fat, iron, vitamin E, and fiber. There's more: Olives harness the power to protect from impotence, premature wrinkling, stroke, and heart disease.

Here's how RealAge says you should incorporate olives into your diet.

• Buy them whole -- not pitted, not stuffed, just whole. This way, you'll get the biggest dose of antioxidants and polyphenols -- these are your disease-blocking agents.
• Buy black -- Black olives are better than green because they contain more cancer-preventing flavonoids.
  
• Go dark with olive oil and store it in a dark bottle too -- more blood-clot-fighting polyphenols this way.