Category Archives: Health

Research shows olive oil can reduce harmful blood clots

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Research shows olive oil can reduce harmful blood clots

Researchers at Tornoto’s Keenan Research Center found that olive oil can help reduce the formation of harmful blood clots in mice. It does this by promoting Apolipoprotein A-IV which is an important component of HDL, the good cholesterol. This component prevents blood platelets from sticking together unnecessarily. This particular protein is low in people with a risk of cardiovascular disease and high in those with less risk. Some clotting to prevent bleeding but not so much as to create a blood clot. Good levels of  Apolipoprotein help reach this ideal level and olive oil supports its formation.

The Fatty Liver Foundation – The FibroScan

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The Fatty Liver Foundation – The FibroScan

The Fatty Liver Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by one of our long-term customers, Wayne Eskridge. It can be found at https://www.fattyliverfoundation.org. From the website, its mission is: “To improve the diagnosis, treatment, & support of Americans with fatty liver, NAFLD or NASH through awareness, education, screening and patient advocacy.”

One of the many beneficial pages from the site is the Noninvasive Tests page. Here we learn about the FibroScan. This is essentially a specialized ultra sound that can measure liver stiffness and liver fat. This test has been available in Europe since 2003 and was approved by the FDA in 2013. Many doctors and hospitals can offer the FibroScan test for patients who are concerned about liver disease. Early detection and natural preventative lifestyle changes are the most effective deterrents of liver disease.

Oleocanthal Can Help Protect Against Alzheimer’s

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Extra virgin olive oil contains oleocanthal as one of its main polyphenols – the one that can cause a burning sensation in the back of the throat. Researchers from the University of Monroe-Louisiana conducted a study that found oleocanthal had a modulating effect on an important part of the immune system, called C3AR1. Unfortunately, if C3AR1 becomes overactive, it causes inflammation in the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s. Oleocanthal helps reduce this over activity and maintain the normal activity of C3AR1. This is just another reason to consume real extra virgin olive oil.

The Fatty Liver Foundation

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The Fatty Liver Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by one of our long-term customers, Wayne Eskridge. It can be found at https://www.fattyliverfoundation.org. From the website its mission is: “To improve the diagnosis, treatment, & support of Americans with fatty liver, NAFLD or NASH through awareness, education, screening and patient advocacy.”

The chemistry of fat metabolism in the liver is complex but Wayne breaks it down in easy to understand terms. In his explanation he also illustrates why extra virgin olive oil actually helps restore a fatty liver to health. Visit this page for more information: https://www.fattyliverfoundation.org/olive_oil.

Wayne started the foundation after a difficult 10 year ordeal, dealing with his liver disease. During this period he gained a wealth of experience and knowledge. He is dedicated to sharing that experience with as many people as possible so they can avoid going through the same difficulties. Liver disease is a metabolic disorder that can develop over 20 years with no symptoms. It is estimated that 1 in 4 Americans may have a fatty liver and yet not know it. That’s why Wayne is developing a nationwide program to inform people about an inexpensive, non-invasive FibroScan screening for fatty liver.

We appreciate all that Wayne is doing and in the coming months we will offer more information about his foundation, the connection to high quality olive oil, and the practical actions that can be taken to address the prevalence of fatty liver disease in the US.

Study Shows High-Polyphenol EVOO Reduces Risk Of Diabetes

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A new study done by Yale University showed that olive oil rich in polyphenols improved endothelial function while refined olive oil did not. The conclusion was that the biophenols found in real extra virgin olive oil, but not found in refined olive oil, were responsible for the improvement. Endothelial function is the measure of how well blood flows through the vessels, and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular health and type 2 diabetes.

The study took 20 obese people, all with high blood pressure, and gave 3 tablespoons of extra virigin olive oil to half of them and 3 tablespoons of refined olive oil to the other half. After one week their systems were flushed and the groups were reversed. Neither the participants nor the conductors of the study knew who was getting the extra virgin olive oil. After the study the results showed that the endothelial function improved for both groups when taking the real extra virgin olive oil.

From the study:

“Our study demonstrated that a single dose of 50 milliliters of high-polyphenolic extra virgin olive oil, when compared with refined olive oil without polyphenols, was associated with endothelial function improvement among individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus”.

“The acute effects of extra virgin olive oil on endothelial function observed may be explained by differences in the composition of extra virgin olive oil and refined olive oils”.

Another benefit of EVOO has been recently discovered

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Mycotoxins are naturally produced by certain fungi growing on many types of animal and human food, including grains and greens. They can cause motor system dysfunctions including tremors and seizures. Available treatments simply seek to strengthen the immune system, but research has discovered two lignan polyphenols that show promise – one of which is unique to extra virgin olive oil. Recent studies  show that the olive lignan is a novel lead that can prevent the neurotoxicity of these food-contaminating mycotoxins. These are just preliminary studies, but the more olive oil polyphenols are studied, the more the importance of their benefits for our health are discovered.

Oleocanthal Health Benefits Recognized

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America’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) has just acknowledged oleocanthal as potentially medicinal for a certain type of breast cancer (TNBC), and has awarded a grant for researchers at Oleolive to develop the phenolic compound as a functional food in the prevention of breast cancer.

Oleocanthal derives from extra virgin olive oil cultivated to have the highest possible phenolic content. With our specialized milling equipment and small, hands-on operation, the polyphenols of all of the Apollo Olive Oils range between 350 and 520 ppm, which is considered very high. On our website, you can find the level of polyphenols in the detailed description of each of our oils. Very few olive oil producers can proudly publish the polyphenol levels of their oils.

As noted in the Oleolive website white paper, the many recent studies about the various health benefits of the polyphenols in real Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) have led to a recommendation of consuming about 2 tablespoons of real extra virgin olive oil daily.

High Polyphenol EVOO Reduces Blood Pressure

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A recent Australian study found that consuming 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with a high polyphenol count reduced blood pressure in healthy adults. They took 50 adults and divided them in two groups. For three weeks one group had 4 tablespoons of high polyphenol olive oil and the second group consumed 4 tablespoons of low polyphenol olive oil. Then the two groups spent two weeks cleansing their systems and consuming no olive oil. Then the second group consumed the high polyphenol oil and the first group consumed the low polyphenol oil. They found that in both cases the group who consumed the high polyphenol oil had a consistently lower systolic blood pressure and the other group consuming the low polyphenol oil had no change. While more research needs to be done the conclusion is that consuming high polyphenol oil could be a good preventative measure for prolonged improved health.

EVOO Linked to Reduced Colon Cancer

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A new study was published on the Nation Library of Medicine web site on June 7, 2020 linking the consumption of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) with a reduced risk of colon cancer. Mice were given a high fat diet of EVOO, safflower, and coconut oil. Both safflower and coconut oil were found to encourage flora that enhanced inflammation. EVOO, on the other hand, encouraged beneficial microbial growth and reduced the inflammation causing microbes. You can read the entire publication here.

Mediterranean Diet Can Reduce Symptoms of Depression

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A new study from Australia found following a Meditteranean diet can help reduce the symptoms of depression. They studied two groups aged 17-35 that scored high for depression, anxiety, and stress for three weeks. One group followed the Meditrranean Diet and the other continued with their normal diet. Afterwards the group on the new diet went from scoring high on the depression scale to normal and the other group remained the same. Larger and repeatable studies need to be conducted to confirm the findings but they are very encouraging.  This study is part of a growing body of research confirming a link between diet and mental health called nutritional psychiatry. 

With all that is known at this stage in nutrition history regarding the link between inflammation, mood and diet, it is not too early in the process to make a solid hypothesis that the Mediterranean diet can reduce depression symptoms.- Lisa Richards, nutritionist and author