Extra Virgin olive oil, the Natural Juice of the Olive

Extra Virgin olive oil, the natural juice of the olive, is the oil which should never be left out of salads. On Crete island, an area with a high production of olive oil, salads swim – well almost- in olive oil and this seems strange to visitors who are not used to this.

Extra virgin olive oil, the Natural Juice of Olive, offers the chance of extremely healthy combinations,especially when the salads use fresh vegetables and greens, as in used in the traditional Greek diet.

There are a wide range of well-evidenced health benefits related to Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

• Prevention of Overall Mortality
• Prevention of CVD, Coronary Heart Disease, and Myocardial Infarction
• Prevention of Diabetes or improved Glycaemic Control in existing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Reduction in Overall Cancer Incidence
• Prevention of Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Prevention of Mood Disorders
• Reversal of Fatty Liver Disease
• Prevention of Overweight and Obesity

Olives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil as the main source of healthy fat, with additional powerful bioactive compounds, is central to the Mediterranean Diet. There is increasing evidence describing the unique and powerful role of Extra Virgin Olive Oil at the heart of the numerous regional variations of the Mediterranean Diet. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a crucial enabler of a diet rich in vegetables, making a plant predominant diet enjoyable and sustainable.

The Mediterranean style diet is now recommended by governments, scientists and health professionals as an example of a nutritional gold standard with a considerable body of evidence to support very significant beneficial effects on health and wellness.

The Mediterranean Diet is a nutritional recommendation based on the traditional dietary patterns of Southern Europe. This diet is characterised by the high consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits and vegetables; moderate to high consumption of fish and dairy products; and low consumption of non-fish meat. In 2013, UNESCO listed the Mediterranean diet as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Research shows that consuming between 25 and 50 mL of Extra Virgin Olive Oil per day is associated with health benefits, especially for heart health (e.g. cholesterol and blood pressure health).

Evidence shows that people who consume a Mediterranean style diet enjoy various health benefits

See our list with Olive Oils & Olive products

Greek salad with olives

2 firm tomatoes

2 cucumbers

1 medium-size onion

1/2 cup parsley

1 green pepper

1 tbsp pickled capers

5-6 black olives

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon oregano

4 tbsps olive oil

1 tbsp vinegar