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Proven Health Benefits
Olive oil is an important part of Mediterranean diet and an ideal alternative (through indirect use) to chemical-laden cosmetic products in the market. No wonder why it’s taking over the cosmetic world and our kitchens.
The several health benefits and culinary usefulness are backed by scientific and medical research. The many health benefits are directly related to “healthy” fatty acid found on cold pressed olive oil. Cold pressed olive oil has significant amount of polyphenols, vitamins E & K and antioxidants known to strengthen our immune system.
When shop for olive oils in the market, a wide variety for various applications will catch your attention. Virgin olive oil is one of the most popular and widely consumed varieties of olive oil today. Virgin olive oil is most suitable in culinary settings and used as cooking oil because of its low acid content. It is known to be a healthier and cheaper option for cooking oils if you want to enjoy its many nutritional health benefits without breaking a bank.
Extra virgin olive oil is produced from cold pressing the olives. It also known to provide the most nutritional benefits and suitable for direct consumption. However, extra virgin olive oil doesn’t typically come with a cheap price tag so if you’re planning to make a switch to a healthier and better diet using this variety, be mindful of how much you can afford.
Pure and lampante olive oils are also two common varieties you can find in the market. However, these two varieties are only suitable for indirect consumption because of their high acidic contents. Lampante is a type of olive oil used only as vehicle fuel.
Assurance of Quality
The right choice of olive oil greatly depends on your application. Before walking down to your favorite retailer, it helps to determine the specific application of the product – are you doing a test kitchen using an olive oil? If you’re nodding your head in agreement, virgin and extra virgin oils are the most suitable options. When you go shopping, look for “extra virgin” on its label. Such product ensures you of a high quality olive oil content wherein its aroma and flavor molecules remained intact after a minimal processing.
Guaranteed Healthfulness
To get the natural components of olive oils, look for U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal. This means that the product contains at least 95% of oil that comes from olives grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. While many small brands of olive oils that produce the finest oils in the market cannot afford for USDA certification, it helps to checkout reviews or verify brand reputation and you’ll know if it’s worth trying.
