The positive effect of olive oil on human health has been known since earlier time. The worldwide interest in the Mediterranean diet increases demand for this miraculous product every day. The global olive oil market exceeded 13 billion dollars in 2019. By 2027, the market is expected to reach 17 billion dollars.
PANDEMIC HAS INCREASED THE DEMAND FOR OLIVE OIL
Although Covid 19 pandemic initially caused a decline in olive oil and sales, its return was amazing. The people who shut down tried to get information about immunity and general health. Health concern has increased interest and demand for useful oils. This will soon get a lot more interesting. Because pandemic showed everyone, how changing the way you feed yourself affects the quality of your life. The growing awareness of the health benefits of olive oil has become the key factor in the expansion of the market.
So what makes extra virgin olive oil best for a better health?
THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL IN A HEALTHY DIET
There's a significant part of fat in healthy nutrition. The fat consumption should be somewhere between 20-30 percent for a healthy metabolism. Oils are the source of the energy supplies when the body is low in sugar. And for the absorption of vitamins a, D, E, K, the body uses oils to make new cell membranes, hormones, and more.
HOW MANY TYPES OF OIL?
The nutrients contain four types of oil:
- Saturated fats
- Trans fats
- Monounsaturated fats
- Polyunsaturated fats
These four types have different chemical structures and physical properties, saturated and trans fats tend to be solid at the room temperature, single unsaturated and multiple unsaturated oils tend to be liquid. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are more herbal-based. Extra virgin olive oil contains high levels of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. That's why olive oil has significant benefits to human health. Animal fats has high level of saturated fat, so they increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and paralysis.
These four types of fats have different chemical structures and physical properties, saturated and trans fats tend to be solid at room temperature, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats tends to be in liquid form. Extra virgin olive oil contains high levels of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. That's why it has significant benefits to human health. Animal fats, the saturated fat level is high, so they increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and paralysis.
HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN AND LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN AND THEIR EFFECTS IN HUMAN BODY
The blood contains important compounds called lipoproteins. They carry fats and cholesterol all over the body. There are two types of lipoprotein: Low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL).
LDL is bad for health because it stores fat in the body's tissues. HDL is good for health, because it takes free cholesterol out of tissues and carries it to the liver for liquidation, preventing forming fat deposits. Cholesterol is an important component of every cell in the body, especially the brain and nervous system. Excess or free cholesterol builds up in the blood vessels, creating masses of fat, which means arteriosclerosis.
GOOD FOR THE HEART
Olive oil reduces the risk of heart diseases, it prevents repeated seizures in people who have had a heart attack and are in healing phase. The high levels of monounsaturated fat content of olive oil, helps reduce the level of other LDL, i.e. triglycerides. According to a US study, the risk of any cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease is lower for those who consume more than half tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil every day. In this study which started in 1990 till 2014, 63,867 women and 35,512 men were examined. Researchers found that those who eat more than half a tablespoon of olive oil each day, they have %15 lower risk of getting any cardiovascular disease, end % 21 lower risk of coronary heart disease.
LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE
Olive oil has positive effects for lower blood pressure. Consuming extra virgin olive oil often regulates systolic and diastolic blood pressure (high and low blood pressure). A study conducted by the University of La Trobe in Australia, showed that extra virgin olive oil helps to lower high blood pressure.
As part of the research, 50 people from different ethnic traditions and culinary cultures were asked to use 60 ml/day extra virgin olive oil in their food. Better results were examined after two weeks of regular use. When participants used refined olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil for two weeks, they maintained their previous results.
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL EXTENDS LIFE SPAN, PROTECTS THE SKIN, FIGHTS DIABETES
Antioxidants are substances that react with body cells and slow and neutralize the effects of chemicals that damage them.The antioxidant properties of extra virgin olive oil penetrates into the body cells, so it has anti- ageing properties. Antioxidants also prolong human life and slows down the ageing of the skin.
Olive oil is an extremely useful for diabetic people, it also helps preventing diabetes.It helps to increase HDL levels, lower triglycerides, and balance blood sugar value. Extra virgin olive oil is an unrefined oil which protects antioxidants in it, so it is extremely healthy. Therefore, make sure to buy olive oil (which can be mixed with cheaper oils, such as corn and soy)from reliable sources.
(OLEOCANTHAL) A POLYPHENOL ONLY FOUND IN EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL KILLS A VARIETY OF HUMAN CANCER CELLS
There are also studies that extra virgin olive oil prevents colon, prostate and breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients which has many health-enhancing effects. Extra virgin olive oil is the most important component of the Mediterranean diet.
A research team led by Hunter University in the US published a scientific magazine called PLOS one in 2019, they published an article on the anti-cancer effect of olive oil. According to the article, extra virgin olive oil kills cancer cells without having a significant effect on normal cells. This is caused by a chemical compound called oleocanthal found in extra virgin olive oil.
WHICH OLIVE OIL IS RICH IN OLEOCANTHAL?
Hunter University's study showed that oleocanthal-rich olive oil is strong enough to kill cancer cells, but oleocanthal-poor olive oil is not.
Different olive oils are considered to have different oleocanthal concentrations due to their origins, harvest times and processing methods. Consumers can perform their own taste testing for oleocanthal. It is stated that by tasting a small amount of olive oil, there is a (similar to tasting pepper) special scratchy feeling in the throat that is a sign of oleocanthal.
IT HELPS PREVENT DISEASES RELATED TO AGEING
Olive oil promotes the absorption of calcium, so it helps with osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis and associated fractures are seen at a lower rate in countries where the Mediterranean diet is dominated. Olive oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, therefore it stands out as a food that must be consumed in the prevention of osteoporosis.
Olive oil is also effective in memory loss, mental regression, dementia and Alzheimer's prevention due to ageing. That's because the brain needs monounsaturated acids to protect cell structure and cell membranes.
|
Global olive oil market (2019) |
13,03 billion dollars |
|
European olive oil market (2019) |
6.67 billion dollars (51% of the world market) |
|
Global olive oil market (estimated in 2027) |
16.64 billion dollars |
|
Dominant olive oil varieties (2019) |
Extra Virgin Olive oil, %72 |
Resources:
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/olive-oil-market-101455
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/extra-virgin-olive-oil#nutrition
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/dietary-fats
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2020/release/the-good-oil-on-extra-virgin-olive-oil
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/03/05/olive-oil-may-lower-heart-disease-risk
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25274026/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7865905/
https://hunter.cuny.edu/news/hunter-study-shows-that-certain-olive-oils-kill-cancer-cells/