I’ve Been Consuming this Golden Elixir For Years Now. Here’s Why You Should Too.
Golden Elixir of Life
It's been popping up more and more frequently on the internet, with celebrities preaching it and people who live long swearing by it.
The famous Bryan Johnson dubbed this one of the formulas to reverse aging.
Im talking about Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO).
I started learning more about this after reading books, videos, and documentaries. It's one of the key ingredients I always include in my meals.
And I’m about to share why you should keep this in your sight at your next meal.
Genius Foods
Of course, everyone has heard of olive oil, and the general population knows that it is one of the healthier oils compared to some seed oils. This is mainly due to its constituents being monounsaturated fats, which are good fats.
But I wanted to know more.
I was on a quest to understand nutrition better and to put an end (or at least try) to all the food debates to get a deeper understanding of what I should be eating.
As I read Genius Foods, I got more clarity.
Oleocanthal
This mysterious word will not seem mysterious after I explain what it means. It's a compound found in EVOO, the main phenol in this oil.
I talked more about polyphenols here, too.
Interestingly, this substance has anti-inflammatory properties that mirror those of an ibuprofen pill.
Talk about a natural medicine.
Furthermore, the same study showed that prolonged consumption of this as part of a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce joint pains, neurodegenerative diseases, and some cancers.
Last but not least, there have been studies showing that the consumption of EVOO has helped with mental health in adolescents as well.
Metabolic health seems to be one of the most important factors in determining someone's longevity, with many important health markers directly associated with it, so we have found a new solution to improving it.
Bioavailability of Nutrients
Some foods contain fat-soluble vitamins, which are easily absorbed by our bodies when consuming fat. These include Vitamins A, K, and E.
However, some important chemicals and antioxidants in other plants, like leafy greens, such as lutein and xanthin, help with anti-inflammation, among other things.
The best way to absorb all these is through a fat source; in this case, EVOO comes to the rescue.
So, the next time you have salads, maybe don't put the oil away; add more to help your body absorb the important nutrients.
Argument of heat
Heat was a small point I wanted to discuss in this book.
Lie me at first, many believe EVOO should only be used in the final product of meals and not as cooking oil, as it might oxidize the oil and make it rancid and even cancerous.
Surprisingly, though, the author here managed to find research saying otherwise. The Antioxidants and Vitamins found in EVOO give it natural protection against heat, preventing it from oxidizing.
Basically, You can use EVOO as a cooking oil.
Bryan Johnson
When asked, “What one thing should I do to improve my diet?” I suggest extra virgin olive oil. -Bryan Johnson
That’s a pretty tall order for one food.
Within the realm of longevity and self-improvement, Bryan Johnson popped up, and rightfully so, as he shared more about his longevity principles. It was timely to have discovered him as I was on my quest to understand foods.
And if someone is trying to boost his longevity and swears by EVOO, then there has to be some promise here.
Love the man or hate him; he does make some good points about the benefits of EVOO.
In this video, he shared more about the benefits of EVOO and the fact that he created his line of EVOO, too (though it might still be a bit out of my price point; more on that later)
Some of the benefits that he sighted include:
- Help with blood pressure
- Plenty of Antioxidants present
- Blood-brain barrier function (cognitive health)
- Reducing symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
I felt grateful to have been able to find this information.
He has given some tips for getting the best types of EVOO based on the criteria below:
- Cold pressed
- High polyphenol count (over 400 mg/kg)
- High Oleic acid count (over 67%)
- Harvest Date (The more recent, the better)
- UV protectant bottle
- Third-Party Tested
In the last section, I’ll get to this by discussing choosing the right EVOO for you.
Blue Zones
However, perhaps the biggest indicator of knowing the true power of olive oil is living examples of people who have been using it daily.
I love watching documentaries. And when there was a new Netflix documentary about blue zones released, I knew I couldn’t skip it.
The documentary tries to uncover what makes the people living in these zones live long, healthy lives until they are 100.
Within the food section, Olive oil popped up.
At this point, I think my suspicions were confirmed.
Many other factors also come into play here, but it still begs the question: Why not use some other oil instead?
This seems like a true testament to olive oil's effects on longevity.
Some of these populations look to it as medication. Imagine that.
The evidence is pretty clear to me, and by now, I think it should be pretty clear to you, too.
So, how do we choose EVOO?
Let’s revisit Bryan Johnson. He mentioned a few pointers for selecting a good EVOO.
But unlike him, most common folk like you and I do not have the luxury of knowing our oleocanthal count or oleic acid levels.
Some boutique websites like this one I found in the past give you information like the one that Byran mentions, though it is based in Singapore.
So, if you manage to find one locally, then by all means, go for that!
But there is also the problem with price.
So here's a quick and easy guide, with some points also highlighted in Genius Foods, for selecting a good EVOO without actually looking at the numbers.
Dark bottle (to maintain freshness and extend shelf life)
A peppery taste at the back of your mouth when tasting it (you should feel like you want to cough after tasting it!)
Ensure that the bottle mentions “Cold-pressed”, “cold-extracted,” or “Filtered.”
Ensure it DOES NOT say “pure” or “light” only EXTRA-VIRGIN-OLIVE-OIL
Buy a size that you will consume within 2–3 months.
This will act as a great starting point for getting a good EVOO.
I've found some examples below based on experience that you can check out.
I have used these brands before, and I love the taste of all of them, too. Give them a try if you’re unsure which types of EVOO to get!
If you truly want to get the best of the best, you can also include the criteria that Bryan mentioned above.
EVOO is an elixir from its sounds.
Though many other factors will come into play, like your diet, there seems to be a lot of evidence suggesting that this superfood should be something we all consume.
Will you be starting soon, or do you already consume it? Let me know in the comments!
Keep going!
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