Healthy Reasons To Buy Olive Oil
By now there are enough studies to show how eating fried and fatty foods regularly can lead to many health problems like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity 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: This refers to oil that is extracted using chemicals and enzymes which process destroys most of its nutrients.. 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 in Queensland 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. A fruit that expresses some fluid at the stem end when it is squeezed is considered mature.. 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. The other oils extracted by using chemical additives or those mixed with extra virgin oil are those labeled ‘pure’ and are not to be confused with 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.
Tags: extra virgin olive oil, olive oil, olive oil Australia, Queensland olive oil