Reduces inflammation.
Supports brain, gut & heart health.
Decreases cholesterol.
Regulates blood sugar.
“If I did believe in ‘superfoods’ olive oil would be one of them.”
—Tim Spector, Leading Epidemiologist
“Extra virgin olive oil is the most incredibly potent gut, energy, heart, immune and overall health boosting ingredient”
—Phoebe Liebling, Registered Nutritional Therapist
“It is impossible to take olive oil out of the science of the Mediterranean Diet.”
—Dr Simon Poole, MBBS DRCOG FBMA MIANE
“Farming practices that affect soil organic matter and microbial communities are under-appreciated influences on crop nutrient density, particularly for micronutrients and phytochemicals relevant to plant health and chronic disease prevention in humans.”
—Montgomery & Bicklé, authors of What Your Food Ate
Yes! Extra virgin olive oil is nature’s ibuprofen. It’s an anti-inflammatory packed with antioxidants, known to fight inflammation. It also supports better gut health, a happy heart, and blood sugar levels.
Polyphenols (the organic compounds that are mainly responsible for the health benefits) are mostly found in virgin olive oils, and even more abundantly in extra virgin olive oil, a grading which represents a superior quality oil. If it isn’t labelled ‘extra virgin’ or ‘virgin’, the oil is refined—a processing technique which strips away the polyphenols and flavour. In short, the more processed the olive oil, the fewer polyphenols.
Outside the virgin olive oil category, most olive oils are refined, highly-processed, bleached, and deodorised, creating shelf-stable, lifeless oil at a lower cost. Comparing EVOO to these oils is like comparing freshly squeezed orange juice to Fanta. Even avocado and coconut oils aren't regulated the same way as extra virgin olive oil.
Olive oil is said to line your gut, soften the stool and, as a result, relieve constipation. It’s also known to address the main causes of bloating. There’s also increasing research around gut microbes and EVOO’s benefit on them.
Having fats in the morning slows down the absorption of any carbs and sugars we might consume later on. When your blood sugar is not suddenly spiked, you will avoid the afternoon slumps and shield yourself from the triggers of
It reduces the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria, and increases the production of microbially produced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which exert a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects.
The British Heart Foundation has recommended the use of olive oil for good reason. Not only is it a healthy fat but its oleuropein content acts as a vasodilator, helping to flush away aggregating platelets. Plus, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help keep our heart working in tiptop shape. Oleuropein is responsible for a whole lot more too. Alexis Kerner, a leading international olive oil expert & environmental scientist, tells us why.
EVOO contains oleocanthal, a potent polyphenol with anti-inflammatory effects that were found to act the same as a low-dose of ibuprofen, but completely nature-based.
While heat will reduce the total polyphenols, EVOO remains packed with nutritional value even when used for roasting and frying and easily beats refined seed oils in terms of health and flavour. Here’s why.
We’re firm believers in olive oil as a food, not a supplement: it’s delicious and elevates the flavour and texture of our meals. That being said, taking a spoon of extra virgin olive oil before any other food might just help with steadier energy levels as well as fend off those powerful sugar cravings. Plus, absorption of the nutrients will be higher after the night-long fast our bodies naturally undergo. Given that the recommended daily intake is between 30-50ml however, there’s room to do both: start your day with a teaspoon and save the rest for your meals!
