Why You Should Buy Olive Oil

A regular consumption of fried and fatty foods has been increasingly linked to life-threatening diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and certain cancers. These contain high amounts of saturated and trans fats that clog the arteries, slow down blood circulation and cause inflammation in the body. Health professionals therefore recommend that you eliminate these types of fat and to buy olive oil to replace them.

Types of oil

When you look to buy olive oil in shops, you will find two kinds:

1. Extra virgin: the highest quality oil obtained immediately after harvesting the olives.

2. Pure or light: the oil extracted with the help of chemicals and enzymes resulting in a highly processed product. Some producers mix these with a small amount of extra virgin oil.

Where extra virgin oil comes from

Olives are members of the fruit family that thrive in regions with warm summers and wet winters such as those in Mediterranean countries and southern Australia. These appear as round light green fruits which slowly turn yellow green when they mature and eventually ripen to a black colour.

Oil production

Only mature fruits are used for oil production which is usually determined by a squeeze test. Using the fore finger and thumb, a fruit is squeezed to see if a liquid is produced at the stem end. Some producers let their fruits undergo a second test to ensure maturity by cutting around the fruit and twisting it to see if the stone is readily released.

After picking and washing, olive oil is immediately extracted using low temperatures under strict conditions to ensure that the oil produced is clean and its antioxidants retained. This is what is known as extra virgin olive oil. All other oils extracted using chemical additives or mixed with a small percentage of extra virgin oil are labeled as pure and are not considered as extra virgin.

Health benefits of extra virgin oil

Extra virgin oil contains high levels of polyphenols which are antioxidants found in plants. Scientific studies on the possible effects of tyrosol, a polyphenol found in virgin oil, suggest a link between this antioxidant and a low incidence of coronary heart disease and hypertension in people.

In recent years, further experiments also suggest that tyrosol has anti inflammatory properties that help fight intestinal disease and may even prevent certain cancers.

Experts further advise that you ask for extra virgin when you buy olive oil to ensure getting all the antioxidants for your health.