When it comes to buying EVOO though you do have to be a wise shopper because it is hard to find real, 100% EVOO. See my article on this subject here.
Buying pure EVOO is especially important if you are trying to follow a Mediterranean diet because much of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet is from the EVOO.
To find out more about the benefits of EVOO see this exerpt from Suzy Cohen's article:
Olive Oil Reduces Cancer and Risk of Stroke
Olives are something I’m fanatic about. I’ll eat any kind, any flavor, and time of day or night! I’m obsessed with them.
Olive oil is the liquid fat which comes from the olive tree. It is extremely high in oleic acid, which is known to reduce blood pressure. It also contains a good amount of natural vitamin E, carotenoids and oleuropein. That compound has strong anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects.
Olives are fruits, and both the fruit and the oil have medicinal benefits. The main active ingredient in olive oil is oleic acid, some phenols and squalene.
Extra virgin olive oil or EVOO is sometimes referred to as cold-pressed. This type of oil is higher quality, better flavor and lower acidity than plain olive oil. When you see “extra virgin” on the label, that means something good. It means that the oil was mechanically pressed out of the olives, as opposed to using a bunch of chemicals to extract it. When the oil is squeezed and pressed from the olives mechanically, the vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids are not destroyed.
As far as the phenols go, the main ones are hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein. I give you their names so you can look up all the medical(TM) research at pubmed, and see all the incredible studies that prove pharmacological value when it comes to activities. These include:
To find out what studies have shown about the links to improved health and longevity see the rest of the article here. What I really like about EVOO is it's link to reducing the risk of cancer and stroke.
To Your Health
Dr. Barbara (TM)
Celiacbrain.blogspot.com (TM)
