The ‘Quest for Health’ is a universal pursuit by people of all ages and nationalities. All in the name of ‘good health’, we walk more, cut out processed foods, watch what we eat. While all valid options, sometimes, health benefits can come from what you add to your meals, not cut out. Extra virgin olive oil is one of those additions you can pair with almost any meal (or even dessert) for a little health-boost. Let’s get to it and answer some of the most common questions about why olive oil is healthy for you.

Why is Extra Virgin Olive Oil Healthy?

We’ve all heard the buzzwords tied to healthy food choices: antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, vitamins, etc. The beauty of olive oil is that it contains just about every good-for-you property imaginable. A key component of the most popular diet in the world, the Mediterranean diet, olive oil contains high levels of polyphenols, oleic acid, vitamins E and K, and other anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds which help you body to ward off many diseases.

Various studies have shown that moderate amounts of olive oil added to your diet can help combat a whole host of chronic ailments such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure, inflammation, and high levels of LDL cholesterol. When used within a Mediterranean diet, olive oil can even be an important part in managing diabetes and weight loss.

The saturated fats and oleic acid present in olive oils are the reason for all these benefits. In fact, the FDA released a statement in 2018 saying that even 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons daily of healthy olive oil can be enough to reap the cardiovascular benefits.

There is a catch though: not just every olive oil contains all these antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. So how do you know which are the best for your health?

Which Olive Oil is the Most Healthy?

As we discussed in our previous article on The Secrets of the Best Olive Oils, to get the most potential health benefits from olive oil, it must be ‘Extra Virgin’, meaning it has undergone no extra processing and is the oil in its purest form possible. By ensuring that an olive oil is first cold pressed, did not go through extra refining nor heat processing, look for the label ‘extra virgin’ so that way none of the healthy components were lost. Additionally, the title of ‘extra virgin’ is given only to the highest-quality olive oils that are free from impurities, so you know they will be delicious as well.

Which Olive Oils are Highest in Polyphenols?

Now we get to the crux of the heart-healthy matter. Of the main antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components within olive oil, the most important are the polyphenols. So which olive oil is highest in polyphenols?

As mentioned in our olive oil tasting guide, when tasting olive oils notice the bitter and spicy flavors that come out. These flavors, which, by the way, should cause you to cough when swallowing olive oil, are caused by the high polyphenol count in the oil. For reference, a good olive oil will have upwards of 100-250 mg/kg of polyphenols.

This is why we love La Maliosa’s extra virgin olive oils Aurinia and Caletra. A quick glance to the chart on the right shows us that Aurinia has high polyphenols, measured at 327 mg/kg. Then, Caletra is off the charts with an incredible 1224 mg/kg of polyphenols! No wonder that Caletra is an extra gold medal winner and was awarded THE best Tuscan organic extra virgin olive oil, meaning one of the best in the world!

As well, polyphenols are an important component found in tannins, which are also found in red wines. Imagine the polyphenol boost of a good Mediterranean meal containing both red wine and extra virgin olive oil!

Olive Oil Helps with Stress

The anti-inflammatory vitamins within olive oil can be considered as also ‘brain-boosting’ as well. The oleic acid, especially when combined with omega-3 fatty acid rich foods, works with our brains to release compounds that help to calm us and reduce stress.

Buy some antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, vitamin rich, stress busting and brain boosting extra virgin olive oils to add a delicious and healthy twist to your next meals. Our oils, Aurinia and Caletra are not only organic, vegan, and biodynamic, but gold medal rated and have polyphenols that are off the charts!

Start Adding Healthy Extra Virgin Olive Oils to Your Cooking