Extra Virgin Olive Oil Archive

Why You Should Buy Olive Oil

A regular consumption of fried and fatty foods has been increasingly
linked to life-threatening diseases such as coronary heart disease,
hypertension, diabetes and certain cancers. These contain high amounts
of saturated and trans fats that clog the arteries, slow down blood
circulation and cause inflammation in the body. Health professionals
therefore recommend that you eliminate these types of fat and to buy
olive oil to replace them.

Types of oil

When you look to buy olive oil in shops, you will find two kinds:

1. Extra virgin: the highest quality oil obtained immediately after
harvesting the olives.
2. Pure or light: the oil extracted with the help of chemicals and
enzymes resulting in a highly processed product. Some producers
mix these with a small amount of extra virgin oil.

Where extra virgin oil comes from

Olives are members of the fruit family that thrive in regions with
warm summers and wet winters such as those in Mediterranean countries
and southern Australia. These appear as round light green fruits which
slowly turn yellow green when they mature and eventually ripen to a
black colour.

Oil production

Only mature fruits are used for oil production which is usually
determined by a squeeze test. Using the fore finger and thumb, a fruit
is squeezed to see if a liquid is produced at the stem end. Some
producers let their fruits undergo a second test to ensure maturity by
cutting around the fruit and twisting it to see if the stone is
readily released.

After picking and washing, olive oil is immediately extracted using
low temperatures under strict conditions to ensure that the oil
produced is clean and its antioxidants retained. This is what is known
as extra virgin olive oil. All other oils extracted using chemical
additives or mixed with a small percentage of extra virgin oil are
labeled as pure and are not considered as extra virgin.

Health benefits of extra virgin oil

Extra virgin oil contains high levels of polyphenols which are
antioxidants found in plants. Scientific studies on the possible
effects of tyrosol, a polyphenol found in virgin oil, suggest a link
between this antioxidant and a low incidence of coronary heart disease
and hypertension in people.

In recent years, further experiments also suggest that tyrosol has
anti inflammatory properties that help fight intestinal disease and
may even prevent certain cancers.

Experts further advise that you ask for extra virgin when you buy
olive oil to ensure getting all the antioxidants for your health.

Buy Olive Oil for Good Health

Your body needs sufficient amounts of unsaturated fat to promote
healthy blood circulation, keep your heart healthy and prevent most
diseases. A long line of studies increasingly show that, unlike most
food products containing saturated and trans fats, olive oil contains
different kinds of unsaturated fatty acids with high antioxidant
properties. If you want to buy olive oil to replace the saturated fats
in your diet, only extra virgin and not simply pure or light olive oil
can give you the most health benefits.

Kinds of olive oil

Olive oil can be one of two types:

1. Extra virgin: which is extracted immediately after harvesting the
fruits and not processed with chemicals.

1. Pure or light oil: This is produced by over extraction of oil from
the fruit or mixed with a small percentage of extra virgin oil.

Composition of extra virgin oil

Extra virgin oil which does not undergo chemical processing contains
the highest concentrations of fatty acids which include the following:

* Oleic acid: This gets its name from the olive fruit because it can
make up 55 to 80 percent of olive oil. Research suggests that this
monounsaturated fat works well to reduce your risk of heart
disease, prevents cell ageing and degeneration as well as
osteoporosis. In an interesting study, oleic acid infused in the
intestines of mice indicated a strong tendency to reduce hunger
pangs, leading experts to believe that controlled amounts of olive
may be used to aid weight loss.
* Palmitic acid: a saturated fatty acid that makes up to 20% of
olive oil.
* Linoleic acid: another polyunsaturated fatty acid which is an
Omega-6 essential fatty acid that makes up to 20% of olive oil
* Linolenic acid: a polyunsaturated fatty acid that makes up the
lowest percentage in olive oil.

Anti-inflammatory properties

The polyphenols found in olives are natural antioxidants that give it
a bitter and astringent taste. Researchers who observed a similarity
in the characteristic “bite” of olives and ibuprofen, a
non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID), proposed that the same
astringent effect of the polyphenols are responsible for its anti
inflammatory benefits. This helps to explain why olive oil can treat a
wide range of diseases from sunburn, heart disease, and hypertension
and prevent certain cancers.

Prioritise quality when you buy olive oil. Make sure that you get only
the best extra virgin olive oil that is extracted under strict
standards to maintain its health giving properties.

Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Two sizes available

A quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Big on flavour, fruit and freshness. To be enjoyed with dipping bread, salad drizzles, any style of cooking, especially when you want a quality oil.

250ml bottle $10

Cask of Extra Virgin Olive Oil keeps out air, light and heat maintaining the freshness of the oil to the last drop.

2ltr cask $35

Wholesale quantities and prices available on request.

  • Coolana Olive Grove