posted by PHILEOS EVOO on May 22, 2023
“You feel good about using olive oil, right? You know it's good for you, tasty and easy to use. Still, to get the most benefits - and the best bang for your buck - there's more you should know.”
“The health benefits of olive oil are 99 percent related to the presence of the phenolic compounds, not the oil itself,” says the USDA’s research plant physiologists.
The USDA is referring to the polyphenols which are found in olive oil. It has been discovered over the past decade to be the nutrient substance responsible for the bulk of extra virgin olive oil’s health benefits, without which “you might as well use inferior oil such as canola or sunflower”.
And when tested, polyphenols were surprisingly low in most commercially available olive oils, according to a recently published study conducted by the USA’s Agricultural Research Service.
Olive Oil and the Mediterranean Diet
The term “Mediterranean diet” (MedDiet) refers to the pattern of the diet that was common in the 1960s in the olive tree-growing countries around the Mediterranean Sea, especially Greece which is the home of Phileos EVOO. At that time, the extensive Countries Study showed that mortality due to coronary heart diseases in the Mediterranean area was 2–3 times lower than in Northern Europe and the US. The time point (1960s) is important to consider, because in many of these countries the diet has changed since then and is now similar to the so-called “Western diet” of the US and Northern Europe.
The explicit findings of this research strongly suggest that the diet of the Mediterranean where people in the 1960s were much more poorer than wealthy Americans and Europeans is simply better and healthier. This can account for reduced coronary disease and longer life expectancy.
Finally, a common and central feature of all variations of the MedDiet is the usage of olive oil as the main source of fat, with mainly monounsaturated fatty acids.
The Good Stuff
Polyphenols decrease heart disease risk factors by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing blood clotting and improving the health of artery linings.
Researchers have discovered genes that, when activated, either increase or reduce your chances for metabolic syndrome, the name for a group of risk factors that together increase the risk for heart disease, America’s No. 1 killer. Fresh, high-polyphenol olive oil affects these genes in a positive way, reducing your risk for heart disease. But low-polyphenol olive oil does not have the same effects, according to a recent study.
Polyphenols also reduce cancer risk by lowering inflammation and cellular proliferation. They act as antioxidants, reducing oxidation and cell damage, which leads to many degenerative diseases. They even reduce microbial activity and infections.
These benefits explain, in part, why the Mediterranean diet, high in olive oil, has been linked with superior health. But there is an advantage even the poorest of the poor in Mediterranean countries have enjoyed since at least 4,000 B.C.: freshly harvested olive oil. That’s because olives were growing on trees in their own back yards; it was plentiful and cheap. But its freshness had been taken for granted.
These benefits explain, in part, why the Mediterranean diet, high in olive oil, has been linked with superior health. But there is an advantage even the poorest of the poor in Mediterranean countries have enjoyed since at least 4,000 B.C.: freshly harvested olive oil. That’s because olives were growing on trees in their own back yards; it was plentiful and cheap. But its freshness had been taken for granted.
Several factors are responsible for the polyphenol content of olive oil, according to the experts:
- The age of the trees: Older trees contain significantly more.
- Harvesting method: Rougher treatment and exposure to the elements reduces phenols.
- Olive maturation: Green olives contain more polyphenols than ripe olives, though it’s easier to extract more oil from riper olives.
- Processing: The less processing the better. “Extra virgin” olive oil, which is cold-pressed only once, has the highest polyphenol levels. Two presses (“virgin” olive oil), reduces polyphenol content further, and oil with three extractions contains only about half the value of “virgin” olive oil. Highly refined or “light” olive oils, which use heat or chemicals in the refining process, have significantly lower polyphenol levels.
- Storage: Any exposure of the harvested olives or the oil to heat, light or air will reduce polyphenol content.
Characteristics of a High Quality EVOO and Manufacturer
- Look for a manufacturer such as Phileos that harvests and handles the olive oil to maximize polyphenol content.
- Olive oil should smell fruity and taste like olives. Some describe high-quality olive oil as “grassy” or “peppery.”
- Buy olive oil in a container that protects the oil from light. That could be dark glass or a tin.
- People need to taste truly fresh oil. I believe most people are used to an oil that is not fresh, and that’s what they think it should taste like. There’s a high-quality product available at the same price. Extra virgin olive oil has a special flavour and freshness. Once people taste fresh extra virgin olive oil, they’ll want to continue choosing it.
Phileos EVOO is a "REAL" manufacturer of our "OWN" high quality olive oil who has scale. You see, we produce the volumes and control the entire process from branch to bottle. It's that simple for us, and we have truly mastered the craft of high quality EVOO production. Phileos EVOO sells directly to markets from our manufacturing facilities removing all parties in between, thus protecting the quality of our olive oil and brand.
We are one of the few international olive oil manufacturers who can delicately balance Fatty Acid, Oleocanthal Content and Total Polyphenols (characteristics of a superior EVOO) consistently and not by luck! All of our extra virgin olive oils contain these traits year after year as Phileos has truly mastered the craft of high quality production.
Don't take our word for it! Our international awards and recognition for taste and quality along with Phileos olive oil being studied for its health benefits by leading researchers and scientists from Spain and Greece must mean something.
Therefore when consumers buy Phileos, they can rest assured that they are always purchasing an Ultra Premium oil that is tasty and healthy every time!