Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Healthy Pantry Item

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Healthy Pantry Item

All oils are refined, but extra virgin olive oil is the winner. People who use olive oil instead of other fats have better heart health, healthier weights, less inflammation and are less prone to cell damage by free radicals (which means better ageing!). Olive oil is a lot low in saturated fats, and is over 70% monounsaturated fats. Saturated fats are the bad guys, and monounsaturated fats are the superheroes. They help reduce our bad blood cholesterol which can decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Other good sources of monounsaturated fats are nuts, avocados and canola oil. Olive oil has a lot of good quality evidence supporting it’s health benefits from these monounsaturated fats. Olive oil is more than just good fats though. It also contains polyphenols. These antioxidants can reduce inflammation (and are also in olives, grapes, spices, nuts, berries, apples, spinach and broccoli).

Ignore outdated advice that olive oil is only good as a salad dressing. Use it for oven-baking and stir frying too and you’ll still reap the benefits. Make sure you choose Extra Virgin Olive Oil. ‘Pure olive oil’ and ‘olive oil’ are more refined and have been heat treated, reducing their health benefits.

Cobram estate make great quality extra virgin olive oils, made right here in Australia. They’re available at Woolworths supermarkets.