we all know that oils are not created equal. no oil is more powerful than extra virgin olive oil when it comes to improving your health (evoo). while most store-bought olive oil is a cheap combination of highly processed oils with just a few cold-pressed oils, cooc certified evoo, which is what we use in our cbd tinctures, is unique — and one of the reasons is because of its high phenolic / polyphenols content.
what exactly are phenols?
chemical substances known as phenols or phenolic compounds are found in the fruit of the olea europaea tree. these molecules, also known as polyphenols, are directly connected to the numerous health advantages given by evoo.
a hydroxyl group (-oh) is attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon group to form phenols. a polyphenol is formed when a phenolic component creates a longer chain. we can locate unique polyphenols that have a myriad of health advantages in olive oil with a high phenolic content.
which polyphenols can only be found in olive oil?
oleocanthal: the prefix “oleo” refers to a natural phenolic component found solely in the olive fruit. it appears to be the source of the pungent taste in olive oil.
tyrosol: is a natural antioxidant that may be found in a variety of foods, including argan oil, although it is most commonly found in extra virgin olive oil (evoo).
oleuropein: is a naturally occurring phenolic chemical found in olive leaves and green olives, mostly in the skin and meat of the latter. it’s what gives evoo its bitter flavor.
oleacein: this natural phenolic component may be found in olive oil and royal jasmine. in evoo, it is one of the most prevalent phenolic compounds.
hydroxytyrosol: it flourishes on olives, olive pulp, olive leaves, and olive oil in little amounts. it’s a clear liquid with no odor.
ligstroside: it belongs to the phenolic glycosides class of chemical compounds. a glycosyl moiety is attached to the phenolic structure. ligstroside is present in olives and other fruits in lesser concentrations.
what are the health benefits of olive oil with a high polyphenol content?
we emphasize that research on olive oil polyphenols suggests that they may have health advantages when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
oleocanthal’s health benefits
oleocanthal is an anti-inflammatory compound with antioxidant effects. olive oil with a high oleocanthal content causes malignant cells to break. it produces enzymes that kill cells while causing no damage to healthy cells. oleocanthal also improves a putative neuroprotective mechanism against alzheimer’s disease. according to a research released in october 2020, oleocanthal-rich olive oil aids weight reduction and combats chronic illness. for two months, 23 patients with metabolic syndrome and hepatic steatosis were given extra virgin olive oil with a high oleocanthal content. the effects of consuming evoo with a high oleocanthal content on metabolic indices, inflammation, and abdominal fat distribution were all positive. this is a significant result for a patient group with a high cardiometabolic risk.
oleuropein’s health benefits
oleuropein’s health advantages include anti-oxidant action, natural anti-inflammatory activity, low blood glucose levels, free radical elimination, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activity, and cardioprotective and neuroprotective activity, which protects against heart disease.
oleacein’s health benefits
one of the most abundant polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil is oleacein. it appears to slow the development of atherosclerosis through having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antibacterial properties. more information came from a new clinical trial on chronic lymphocytic leukemia. olive oil rich in oleocanthal and oleacein inhibited the growth of malignant white blood cells.
health advantages of polyphenols working together
helps to lower blood pressure
unhealthy oils can cause major sickness by raising blood pressure and cholesterol levels. olive oil and leaf extracts are used in both mainstream and alternative medicine to treat health conditions related to blood pressure, such as arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. investigations on animals have demonstrated that olive oil and olive leaf extract reduce blood pressure while increasing blood flow to the coronary arteries. all of this while lowering heart rate and controlling intestinal muscle spasms.
immune system booster
immune health is essential for preventing inflammatory illnesses and diseases such as cancer. various scientific research have demonstrated the ability of polyphenols to modulate, regulate, and boost the human immune system. polyphenols influence the distribution of white blood cells and cytokines, as well as a variety of other immune-boosting elements.
allergies
the phenolic chemicals in evoo combat allergens, providing long-term relief by having an impact on allergic immunological reactivity. dietary polyphenols, such as those contained in extra virgin olive oil, have been discovered to have a significant influence on prevalent allergy illnesses in people. asthma, food allergies, and eczema are among them. polyphenols help to avoid the onset of allergies, which can greatly reduce symptomatic misery and enhance the quality of life for allergy sufferers.
mental health
polyphenolic chemicals have been linked to improved mental health in a variety of studies. these chemicals, which are contained in evoo, have been discovered to inhibit the development of neurogenerative disorders including alzheimer’s and dementia. on a biological level, these polyphenolic substances modulate and increase brain plasticity, cognition, mood, and behaviors, progressively improving the user’s mental well-being. polyphenols are also praised for their capacity to battle and alleviate depressive symptoms. frontiers in neuroscience also looks at how dietary polyphenols are linked to gut microbiota and how they might help reduce depression’s characteristic symptoms on a biological level.
blood sugar balance
polyphenols helps to control blood sugar by increasing insulin efficiency. the abundant antioxidants present in polyphenols have been discovered to possibly improve blood sugar in high-risk individuals who may acquire illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
researchers discovered that polyphenols help to lower blood sugar by enhancing how the body metabolizes sugar. in one research, 45 overweight – or obese – persons were assigned to eat a diet that was either low in omega-3 fatty acids, high in omega-3 fatty acids, high in polyphenols, or both omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols. the study found that individuals on low omega-3 fatty acid diets shed the most weight over the course of the 8-week study, while those on high polyphenol diets had more substantial reductions in their insulin and blood sugar levels. the pancreas’ functioning improved as a result of the same diet.
maintain a healthy weight
polyphenols have been related to successful weight loss attempts. because these vital micronutrients proactively boost the human digestive system, they are an important element of every diet. this leads to rapid weight reduction and fat burning, which is easier to sustain when polyphenols are consumed regularly. polyphenols have been connected to the modification of the body’s molecular and physiological processes. these pathways are responsible for metabolizing energy and managing the development of obesity. furthermore, by reducing your risk of gaining weight, you may be less likely to acquire many of the diseases that are usually connected with obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease.
polyphenols have a powerful antioxidizing impact on the body, which may help to enhance cognitive function and manage the mental aspect of weight issues. polyphenols also restrict fat absorption from the gut while lowering chronic inflammation.
anti-properties
phenolic compounds have been shown to exhibit a number of “anti” properties. polyphenols provide a wide range of health advantages, including antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic (reduces blood clots), anti-atherogenic (removes cholesterol from cells), and anti-mutagenic properties. numerous scientific research investigations have looked into and assessed these various positive effects.
polyphenols have been proven to have a major influence on a variety of biological functions in the body, including immune system modulation (which we spoke about earlier). polyphenols, according to the national cancer institute, are effective anti-cancer agents that are easy to integrate into your diet through evoo.
anti-inflammation
inflammation can be uncomfortable, but evoo can assist by reducing swelling throughout the body due to its antioxidants. polyphenols are extremely strong anti-inflammatory agents. according to the national center for biotechnology information, they have been proven to influence biological processes within inflammatory cells. oleocanthal, one of the most potent polyphenols contained in evoo, functions in a similar fashion to ibuprofen, one of the most regularly prescribed anti-inflammatory medicines in the world. chronic inflammation, according to healthline, is a primary cause of illnesses such as metabolic syndrome, alzheimer’s, arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and obesity. according to research, 3.4 tablespoons (50ml) of oleocanthal has a similar impact as 10% of an adult’s dose of ibuprofen. further study suggests that the major fatty acid in olive oil, oleic acid, has the ability to lower the levels of several important inflammatory markers in the body, such as c-reactive protein.
improved digestion
sitosterol, found in evoo, is a sterol that modulates cholesterol absorption. the lipids in high-phenolic olive oil may smooth the interior of your colon, making it simpler for feces to flow through. this also increases feces’ water retention, which has been shown to help with constipation. constipation can be relieved by drinking a tablespoon of high-phenolic olive oil every morning on an empty stomach, according to experts.
does the phenolic content of olive oil affect the flavor?
yes. the higher the polyphenol content of an olive oil, the more strong its sensory character. some polyphenols have also been related to distinct sensory characteristics; for example, oleuropein causes a bitter sensation at the back of your tongue, while oleocanthal and oleacein cause a peppery, pungent taste in your mouth.
in all of our cooc certified olive oil herbal cbd tinctures, we use the arbosana variety of olives, providing intensely grassy, fruity and peppery aroma, hints of apple with a nutty flavor, pungent yet smooth finish due to delivering a higher level of polyphenols. arbosana variety thrives in super-high density growing systems, making them perfect for efficient, sustainable farming.