High phenolic olive oil is gaining popularity thanks to its flavor and health benefits. Keep reading to find out more about what high phenolic olive oil is, what its benefits are, and where you can buy it for use in your own kitchen.
What is High Phenolic Olive Oil?
To answer the question of what high phenolic olive oil is, a good starting point is defining the term phenolic. That word refers to the presence of polyphenols, which in turn are chemical-substance compounds in plants. These compounds are what give olive oil many of its health benefits, which are discussed in the next section of this article. As pointed out in this 2018 Washington Post article, extra virgin olive oil is the form of olive oil most noted for the presence of polyphenols. In other words, high phenolic olive oil and extra virgin olive oil are largely one and the same.
The reason, explained here by the Post‘s Katherine Tallmadge, is this: Extra virgin olive oil goes through very little processing compared to other forms of olive oil, allowing it to keep a higher phenolic content. Virgin olive oil retains some phenolic content, but in lower amounts than its extra virgin cousin. Anything more refined has lower levels still.
Aside from that, other factors can come into play. For example, older trees produce more polyphenols than younger ones. Though they yield a smaller amount of oil, green olives boast a higher polyphenol content than ripe olives. Storage is also important: Air, heat, and light can adversely affect the oil’s polyphenol levels.
What are the Benefits of High Phenolic Olive Oil?
High phenolic olive oil serves as a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants play a large number of roles, but in general, they work to head off damage to cells.
High phenolic olive oil has drawn attention from the scientific community for its health benefits, as covered in this collection of findings published in 2018 by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Those benefits include fighting the effects of cancer as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Polyphenols can also reduce inflammation and head off metastasis in some cases.
Additionally, as pointed out on Healthline.com, more research is needed before polyphenol supplements are available in safe dosage levels. That means that in the meantime, consuming polyphenol-heavy foods and ingredients—like extra virgin olive oil—is by far the best way to enjoy the health benefits of polyphenols.
Where Can You Buy High Phenolic Olive Oil Online?
Luckily, high phenolic olive oil is easy to obtain online. One notable offering provided by Olivegevity is our organic Armonia extra virgin olive oil. This oil is mellow and smooth, and it is ideal for making soup and steamed vegetables as well as baking and roasting. It has won several awards, including a gold medal in the 2016 BIOL International Olive Oil Competition and a silver medal in the same contest in 2018 and 2019. It is available in two sizes: 750 milliliters and 3 liters.
Another attractive option is our organic early harvest Fyllikon extra virgin olive oil. Notably, this olive oil is created with unripe olives, making its polyphenol content particularly high. It has a unique aroma and a grassy flavor, and it is best used to create dressings or as an accompaniment to salads, legumes, and vegetables. Like Armonia, Fyllikon is an award winner. Among other accolades, it is the most awarded Greek organic evoo! Among the awards it has received are 2 Silver Medals in 2016 and 2018 in the NYIOOC held in New York and its latest award was a gold award in the 2019 Olivinius competition. It comes in a 350-milliliter container.
These two organic extra virgin olive oils and a host of other offerings are available to ship throughout the United States, straight to your door.
