Characteristics and beneficial properties of extra virgin olive oil

A healthy and correct diet must be the basis if you want to enjoy excellent health. A varied and diverse diet like the Mediterranean one, for example, is certainly a lifestyle that can help you live better. One of its main elements, in addition to fruit and vegetables, is extra virgin olive oil or, simply, EVO oil.

Known since ancient times, its nutritional values have been repeatedly ascertained by several studies which have shown, among other things, that extra virgin olive oil is the best source of fat you can take in your daily diet.

With an intense aroma and a very tasty taste, extra virgin olive oil has an excellent balance between monounsaturated and polyunsaturated gases that make it one of the inevitable foods on your table.

So let’s see what are its main characteristics and its beneficial properties.

What is extra virgin olive oil and its production method

Extra virgin olive oil (also known by the acronym of EVO oil) is a natural product that is obtained from the pressing of the fruit of the olive tree, or the olive . The fruits used must be fresh, healthy and harvested by hand as soon as they reach a certain degree of ripeness.

The extraction phase must take place only with mechanical methods (cold pressure not exceeding 27 degrees), without the use of chemical additives and solvents, so as not to alter the organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of the extra virgin olive oil.

The fruits can also come from the same crop or can be combined with fruits from other crops. This last technique, practiced by those who have a lot of oil knowledge, is called blendand makes the product precious and unique. The Evo oil produced in this way presents a perfect balance of smells, aromas and flavors.

The acronym Evo is coined to make it easier to distinguish between extra virgin olive oil and olive oil, since they are two different products: Evo oil is, in fact, qualitatively superior to olive oil.

Main differences between extra virgin olive oil and olive oil

Although both oils are produced from the first pressing of the olive, they have many differences between them.

The main difference between olive oil and extra virgin olive oil lies in the production method. As mentioned above, in the Evo oil the fruit must be healthy and the pressing must take place in purity and in a mechanical way.

Olive oil, on the other hand, is produced from refined virgin olive oil, using chemicals such as benzene. This process alters the vitamin E present in the juice, making the product of low quality.

Another substantial difference is the acidity of the oil, as the higher it is, the lower the quality of the oil. Evo oil, in fact, has a maximum acidity of 0.8 g per 100 g, unlike olive oil which reaches a maximum acidity of 1 g per 100 g.

Organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of extra virgin olive oil

To be considered EVO, an oil must possess certain chemical parameters and must not have sensory defects. In addition to these characteristics, there are others that can help you distinguish an extra virgin olive oil from an olive oil in a very simple way.

In fact, it will be enough for you to recognize some of its typical characteristics by observing in particular three elements: color, scent and taste.

First of all, EVO oil is in fact recognized thanks to its intense golden yellow color tending to green, given by the olives chosen for its production. It also has a very fruity aroma and a slightly spicy taste that does not displease your palate.

As already mentioned, extra virgin olive oil is one of the condiments with a perfect balance of fats that, for this reason, make it a very energetic food and suitable for any age (from children to adults and the elderly). It is in fact rich in monounsaturated fats (about 77%) and low in polyunsaturated fats (about 8%) and saturated fats (about 15%).

There are also some minor components but not to be overlooked, including:

• polyphenols: give extra virgin olive oil an excellent antioxidant action;

• vitamin E: acts as an antithrombotic, antioxidant and vasodilator;

• Squalene: great for the skin.

Finally, EVO oil is practically cholesterol-free.

Beneficial properties and preventive action of extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil has several beneficial properties for your health, also useful to prevent many diseases.

The high presence of monounsaturated fats make EVO oil a perfect ally for the heart and cardiovascular system, thus helping to prevent not only heart attacks but also strokes, neoplasms and thrombosis. It also helps to reduce blood sugar after each meal, thus fighting the onset of diabetes.

Another property of extra virgin olive oil is its mildly laxative action: the high digestibility that distinguishes it helps your intestines and your stomach better than any medicine.

As we have already seen, EVO oil contains polyphenols and vitamin E, two antioxidant elements that slow down the aging of the skin, protecting it and making it more elastic. Squalene also prevents skin cancer.

Finally, recent studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil is an excellent regulator of platelets and, therefore, suitable for keeping blood pressure under control.

Its benefits, however, are not limited only to the well-being of your body but are also reflected in your appearance. Oil wraps, in fact, have an excellent anti-frizz property for your hair and are very nourishing for your eyelashes, making them stronger and longer.

DF Gourmet offers different types of extra virgin olive oil, now you just have to visit the site and buy one!