The holidays are here!

If you're thinking about baking, doing some indulgent cooking, or making your gift-giving list...don't forget about one of our favorite non-guilty pleasures...olive oil.

Why are Polyphenols in Extra Virgin Olive Oil So Good for You?

“Did you know that olive oil contains a powerhouse chemical property that makes it so beneficial to our health?”

This special compound is called flavenoid polyphenols, and many people are taking note that some olive oils consist of more polyphenols than other olive oil variants. Olive Oil contains the highest amount of polyphenols than any other edible product, which makes it an essential part of our daily diets to maintain good health.

Why are polyphenols so good for the human body?

Polyphenols serve countless remarkable purposes and are beneficial in scores of ways. They are now known as natural an anti-inflammatory. Scientific studies present the ability of polyphenols to “modulate the human immune system by affecting the proliferation of white blood cells, and also the production of cytokines or other factors that participate in the immunological defense.”¹ They have been shown to have a host of beneficial effects from healing sunburn to lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, and risk of coronary disease. They have also been linked to slower aging and overall better health. Hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol are some of the many phenol compounds in olive oil. There is as many as 5 mg of polyphenols in every 10 grams of olive oil. Many other nut and seed oils have no polyphenols.

The polyphenol content is determined by many factors…

• Extraction Conditions: Techniques used to enhance yield, such as heating the paste, adding water, and increasing malaxation time, result in a loss of polyphenols.
• Refining: Olive oil which is old, rancid, made from diseased olives, or has some other defect can be made palatable by refining. This is done by filtering, heating, charcoal, or chemical treatment to adjust acidity. Refined oils are low in tyrosol and other phenols.
• Olive Varietal: Koreneiki olives, for instance, have a very high level of polyphenols, while Arbequina’s content is low. The content of Frantoio olives is medium-high and that of Leccino medium.
• Time of Picking: Oil made from green (unripe) olives has more polyphenols than oil made from ripe olives. The polyphenol concentration increases with fruit growth until the olives begin to turn purple and then begins to decrease.
• Storage Conditions: Olive oil should be stored in a cool dark place to maintain optimal freshness.

Visit www.oleaoliva.com for delicious, quality olive oil that you and your family can trust and enjoy!

8 Fascinating Benefits of EVOO for Children

“Invest in good things for yourself, so that you can have an abundance to offer back into the world in return.”

There are many that love to serve in the act of giving, yet forget to fill their own energetic well being first. This not only is true with ourselves, but also in the way we look at the world. Fuel your family first in order to see a change towards a healthier community and world.

Start with your Family

It is known that children receive much of a family’s attention, especially in the vital stages of development. As your child may be your top priority, you can go to any lengths so that you can ensure your children gets a balanced diet. But it isn’t that easy, is it? So, the one thing you can do is start making small changes to ensure proper nutrition and health. You can start with Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

8 Fascinating Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for Children

• Helps with ADHD Symptoms: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is becoming increasingly common today. The cause for it still unknown, but ADHD can make school a nightmare for your kid. Olive oil is known to help children deal with ADHD symptoms better.
• Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancer: Olive oil contains polyphenol, a natural antioxidant that is known to bring down triglyceride levels in the body and maintain cardiovascular health. It also repairs damaged tissues to bring down the risk of cancer.
• Promotes Brain Development: Filled with Omega acids, olive oil is a great way to promote your kid’s brain development.
• Rich in Vitamins: Kids need vitamins for their health and growth. Olive oil contains numerous vitamins, including vitamin A. This essential vitamin works to keep your child’s eyes healthy. Vitamin B helps in brain development while Vitamin D helps keep the bones healthy. Olive oil also contains vitamin E.
• Keeps Skin and Hair Healthy: Olive oil contains a number of antioxidants, including Squalene, which can help keep your kid’s hair and skin healthy.
• High on Calories: Olive oil is high on calories and can meet your kid’s daily calorie requirement. But these calories are ‘good’ and don’t harm the body.
• Reduces Risk of Obesity: Some studies show that children, whose diet consists of olive oil, are less likely to develop obesity. You can thank the good fats for this benefit!
• Olive Oil Treats Constipation: Keep your digestive tract healthy, when taken regularly, olive oil can prevent constipation entirely, olive oil is a natural product, long-term use does not result in unwanted side effects. The fats in olive oil can help make the insides of the bowel smoother, making stools easier to pass.

Make Healthy Fun

These are a few things you can gift your child when using Extra Virgin Olive Oil. And to make it even more interesting, you can start off by experimenting with fruity olive oil blends that will especially appeal to children. You can find unique flavors like Blood Orange and Tangerine Extra Virgin Olive Oils as a fun starting point.

By innovating your pantry, you will find your family shifting towards the commonality of health. Make a difference in your world by starting with you and your children.

Olive Oil and Your Colon

“Adding Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your breakfast can aid in digestion.”

Many of us have heard that there are benefits to eating the Mediterranean diet, including olive oil, but we’re betting you’ve never have tried adding olive oil to your cold or hot cereal. Try adding Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your cold cereal or hot oatmeal, and adding healthy fats to your breakfast is a surprisingly great way to get an extra punch of nutrients and energy, plus flavor, into your morning bowl.

How Olive Oil Aids in Digestion

• Keep your digestive tract healthy. Olive oil is a natural product and when taken regularly can help [research quote].
• It reinforces the mucus lining of the colon, which gets worn down from passing hard stools.
• Because of its texture and consistency, olive oil lubricates your digestive system, helping everything move more easily through the colon.
• It contains fats, or monounsaturated oils, that increase the speed of bowel evacuation.
• Olive oil is rich in iron, vitamins E and K, antioxidants, and omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids.
• Research reveals that Olive Oil contains polyphenolic compounds that decrease “oxidative damage to cellular DNA” which results in “effectively decreasing promotion of colon cancer.”¹
• It stimulates the gallbladder, causing the release of bile, which helps digest the fats in your digestive tract.
• In addition to stimulating the release of bile, olive oil stimulates intestinal muscle contractions, which soften stools and makes them easier to evacuate.

“Adding healthy fats to your breakfast is a great way to kick start your metabolism & energize you all day.”

Olive Oil in a Variety of Ways

• First thing in the morning, swallow 1 teaspoon of pure, raw, extra virgin olive oil, then immediately eat a fibrous fruit like an apple or an orange. This also aids in managing your weight.
• Granola and cereal, add a bit of milk and about a tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
• Have an amazing omelet or whole-oats cereal with fruits, nuts, or seeds, and add Extra Virgin Oil.
• In the evening, eat fiber-rich vegetables like broccoli cooked or drizzled with olive oil.
• Drizzle olive oil over fruits or vegetables to lubricate your system while consuming the fiber your body needs.
• Using olive oil throughout the day to cook meals and dress salads will also improve your symptoms.

References:

1. Rigacci, S., & Stefani, M. (2016). Nutraceutical Properties of Olive Oil Polyphenols. An Itinerary from Cultured Cells through Animal Models to Humans. International journal of molecular sciences, 17(6), 843. doi:10.3390/ijms17060843