The olive oil of French olive growers and millers is particularly healthy because only the 1st cold pressing makes it possible to extract an extra virgin olive oil rich in antioxidant polyphenols. To benefit from the benefits of antioxidant polyphenols, it is advisable to drink 2 spoonfuls of excellent quality extra virgin olive oil per day, whose origin and pressing method have been checked. The extra virgin, AOC, PDO and organic olive oils from France are rigorously controlled and the obtaining of labels attests to their quality.
What are the health properties of extra virgin olive oil on cardiovascular diseases?
The WHO, World Health Organization, recommends a daily consumption of olive oil to protect against the risk of cardiovascular disease, one of the main causes of mortality in the world.
Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats, important quantities of antioxidant polyphenols that protect against cardiovascular diseases.
For an extra virgin olive oil, the average polyphenol content (tyrosol, hydrotyrosol, oleuropein, oleocanthal, lignans, …) is 500mg/kg. Olive oils produced under traditional growing and pressing conditions allow higher levels to be obtained. This is notably the case of the Mas des Bories olive oil on sale on the site of the Compagnie de l’huile d’Olive, which has an exceptional rate of 760 mg/kg (analysis by the Laco laboratory, 2017).
Polyphenols prevent the oxidation of LDL, low density lipoproteins. This bad cholesterol is at the origin of the premature degeneration of the arteries. The polyphenols contained in extra virgin olive oil promote the important development of an antibody that acts on the oxidation of LDL and on the risks of atherosclerosis.
What are the contributions of extra virgin olive oil in the prevention of certain cancers?
A team of American researchers (Onica Legendre, Paul Breslin, David Foster) from the University of Rutgers and Hunter College (New York) have published results in the journal Molecular & Cellular Oncology which show that oleocanthal, a polyphenol of olive oil, has protective properties against certain cancers (prostate, breast, pancreas). However, the study was conducted in vitro and does not take into account the complexity of human metabolism.
Furthermore, Dr. Niva Shapira, a researcher at Tel Aviv University specialising in nutrition, shows in an article published in Nutrition Review that the Mediterranean diet based on olive oil protects against the undesirable effects of the sun and helps prevent skin cancer.
What are the other beneficial effects of the polyphenols contained in extra virgin olive oil?
Oleocanthal, responsible for the ardour of olive oil, is said to have anti-inflammatory effects (Nature magazine publication, University of Philadelphia) and oleuropein is said to promote bone consolidation by stimulating calcium absorption.
To be noted: Extra virgin olive oil has only preventive virtues. A medical consultation is imperative in case of symptoms or diseases.