Health Benefits
Most of the research around Olive Oil has focused on the fat profile, fat is a crucial element of our daily lives, carrying nutrients and other ingredients around our body in our blood as well as storing energy and affecting things like our mood.
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil has the highest percentage of unsaturated fats (the good fat) and one of the lowest percentages of saturated fats (the bad fat) compared to all Oils & Fats (Coconut Oil, Butter, Flaxseed etc.) making Extra Virgin Olive Oil possibly the best fat we know of.
In recent years research has focused more on Olive Oil Polyphenols, these have remarkable health properties and combined with the best fat profile we know of make high phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil a truly special food.
Here at The Greek Olive Estate, we work with the World Olive Center for Health, Harvard, Athens University, and others providing olive oil for research. Follow us on social media for new discoveries.
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Read a quick summary of findings below or get in touch if you have a specific question.
Brain Function
High-phenolic olive oil has been found to help prevent and slow neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Multiple Sclerosis and Autism. High-phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oils are also a part of the Nemechek Protocol for children with Autism, with parents claiming great improvement in verbal communication. Our olive oil is currently being used in a trial for Autism here in Greece.
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A recent study fount that Oleocanthal (a polyphenol only available in Extra Virgin Olive Oil) reacts with Glycine in the body to create a compound they named Oleoglycine which works as a strong antioxidant inside our brain cells.
Heart & Blood
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the best source of monounsaturated fat in the human diet and contains one of the lowest percentages of saturated fats compared to any food. This means that olive oil is not just a great source of "good" HDL Cholesterol, it is most likely the best! All research shows that replacing saturated fats in your diet with unsaturated fats decreases the risk of heart attack.
Polyphenols only available in High-Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil protect "bad" LDL Cholesterol from oxidising and breaking up into plaque, those are the pieces of fat moving around our blood stream that block arteries and veins causing heart attacks and strokes.
Digestive System
Extra Virgin Olive Oil works throughout the digestive system, protecting your teeth and gums and helping your intestine absorb more of the vitamins and minerals from the food you eat making it ideal for individuals suffering from digestive disorders.
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Polyphenols also help to slow the growth of unwanted bacteria in our digestive tract, new research has found that polyphenols also inhibit the growth of the bacterium that leads to stomach ulcers.​
Cancer
There is significant research linking Polyphenols to the prevention and inhibition of various cancers such as Breat, Prostate and Intestinal. Recent studies have showed that olive oil with a high enough concentration of Oleocathal (a specific Polyphenol) can kill cancel cells whilst leaving healthy cells undamaged. It is worth noting that the olive oils used which had either low, or no concentration of Oleocanthal had no effect.
There is also a growing body of evidence about the combined treatment of Olive Oil Polyphenols with various anticancer drugs, such as cisplatin and others. These novel approaches may present an advanced strategy in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Oxidative Stress
Polyphenols are nature's antioxidant and antibacterial protection. They also exert the same effect in the human body protecting our blood lipids (fat) from oxidation. The research supporting this is the essence behind the EU approved health claim regarding Olive Oil Polyphenols.
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Recent studies have also shown that polyphenols like oleocanthal react with glycine to create a compound that protects from oxidation in the brain cells. New research focuses on how polyphenols change when they enter the body opening a whole new area of study around antioxidants.
Bone Health
Osteoporosis and other ailments associated with the aging of our bones can be treated, prevented, or mitigated with the use of high phenolic olive oil due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of the Polyphenols found in olive oil.
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Studies have shown that the meditteranean diet with healthy amounts of olive oil shows better calcium retention as we age, most likely due to the better absorption of oily foods.