Best Olive Oil
EVOO
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - The best olive oil there is. Discover all the benefits of EVOO from skincare health to household cleaning. Discover the versatility of this wonderful oil.
Have you ever savored the best extra-virgin olive oil? And can you tell the difference between the extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) vs. the virgin olive oil?
Learn these terms when selecting your favorite extra-virgin olive oil...
Generally, the ripe olives are picked and pressed after harvest. Olive oil resulting from the first pressing of the olives is classified as extra virgin. As such, it produces the least amount of acidity - less than 1%. Therefore, the term "Extra-Virgin" really refers to the acidity level of less than 1%.
Cold Pressed Olive Oil
"Cold-Pressed" refers to the production process used to produce the best olive oil and it means that the heat was not used when extracting the oil. Remember, heat destroys antioxidants, so cold-pressed is a good thing.
Cold-pressed olive oil is produced at low temperature, which in essence, preserves the chemical structure of the olive oil molecules while all the nutrients and antioxidants that are naturally present in the olives are left intact.
EVOO is known to be the best and finest of all olive oils and therefore, the most expensive as well. The color can also vary greatly but generally, the deeper the color the more intense and fruitful the flavor will be.
With the exception of EVOO, all other types are considered refined and therefore, will naturally have a higher content of acid and is not recommended especially for daily use. Generally speaking, higher the acid content the lower the quality of olive oil.
Health Benefits of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is very versatile. It tastes great but there are so many health benefits associated with it that it is regarded as a superfood. Olives have natural disease-fighting ingredients such as polyphenols, natural antioxidant and monounsaturated fat.
There have been numerous articles written by the FDA and other qualified medical communities suggesting that olive oil has many health benefits, including preventing heart disease and cancer.
Click here to learn more in detail about the health benefits of olive oil.
Many Ways To Use Your EVOO
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil is so very versatile that it can be used in countless ways in the kitchen. In Italy for instance, it has been used as a main traditional ingredient in everything from antipasti to desserts. By the way, try out some wonderful recipes and let us know what you think...
There are many ways to use EVOO in cooking but it is best used raw in salads if you want to enjoy its fruitiest and fullest flavor.
Because of the technique involved and time-consuming process required to manufacture extra-virgin oil, true best extra virgin olive oils or premium extra virgin olive oils are typically expensive. Thus, any inexpensive olive oil labeled "extra-virgin" may not be authentic.
Testing Your EVOO
So, how do you know you're getting the real thing when purchasing your EVOO at the store? Do a test to see if your olive oil is truly 100% Extra-Virgin.
Place a small quantity of the oil in a glass bowl and refrigerate it for a few days. If it becomes crystal clear and translucent, it's very likely that you have a real thing. However, if it forms a block and isn't very clear, the oil may have gone through some time of refining process and therefore, cannot be considered a true "Extra Virgin Olive Oil".
Not All EVOO's Are Created Equal!
The best olive oil that is recommended for daily use is the 100% Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the 100% Cold-Pressed Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil as they contain the highest nutrients and provide great health benefits. They have all its vitamins, essential fatty acids, and other nutrients.
The best olive oils contain health benefiting ingredients such as polyphenols and vitamin E. High quality olive oil is also rich in antioxidants that all help to prevent damage in the cells. Since it contains all these nutrients, real extra virgin olive oil is very good for our health.
Additional Resources
Superfoods - Superfoods are abundant with the specific nutrients that our body needs. They contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which protect against chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
