Extra virgin olive oil is the best option for your health.
Experts share the 11 best brands to buy, plus tips on how to store olive oil.
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Shopping for olive oils can be tricky.
With so many different options on store shelves, it can be hard to know which one to choose.
For starters, its a powerful source of antioxidantsparticularly, oleocanthal and oleic acidthat helplower inflammation in the body1.
Olive oil is also linked to supporting heart health, thanks to its high monounsaturated fat content.
registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition
Which is the healthiest olive oil?
Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality olive oil you’ve got the option to buy.
It has excellent flavor and odor, and a free fatty acid content, she says.
How to tell if olive oil is high quality
1.
Meanwhile,all EVOO must meet specific qualificationsto receive the extra virgin title.
Some oils will list extra virgin on the label when they are not.
Its important to buy from a source that gets certified extra-virgin by a qualified organization, she says.
We paint our bottles black to completely block out the UV rays.
It has a strong smell
Gaytan says the stronger the smell, the better.
registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition
Olive oils should have a pretty strong smell.
If you do not smell much of anything, that is not a good sign, she explains.
So, check that to take a nice long whiff before you add the oil to your dish.
It tickles your throat
According to Gaytan, EVOO should have a nice bitterness and pungency to it.
The pungency is those polyphenols at work that give you the health benefits of olive oil, she says.
Some oils will list that they are from Italy, Spain, and Greece.
All of this transporting can affect the quality and integrity of the oil, she says.
You should also buy bottles based on their harvest or best-by date.
According to her, the sweet spot is within two years of the harvest date.
The olive oil tastes so fresh due to being harvested at peak season and sent through an on-site mill.
Not to mention, its pretty affordable, too for the amount that you get.
The only downside is that you’re able to only get it at Costco.
Its said to be a great balance of bitter and peppery flavors.
The company makes an effort to prevent soil erosion and to naturally suppress weeds.
It also uses solid byproducts as natural fertilizer, says Gorin.
Its organic, stone-crushed, and cold-filtered.
We also love how the California-based company prioritizes sustainability through its packaging and waste management processes.
Brightland Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil $37.00
Brightland is an AAPI-and-family-owned company.
Its extra-virgin olive oils are certified as carbon neutral.
Doesnt hurt that its delicious and affordable, too.
The olive oil sommelier recommends storing olive oil in a dark, cool place, like a cupboard.
These are the benefits of olive oil you should know about:
Lucas, Lisa et al.
Molecular mechanisms of inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory benefits of virgin olive oil and the phenolic compound oleocanthal.Current pharmaceutical designvol.
17,8 (2011): 754-68. doi:10.2174/138161211795428911
Xia, Meng et al.
18 Oct. 2022, doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1041203
Guasch-Ferre, Marta et al.
Olive oil intake and risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the PREDIMED Study.BMC medicinevol.
2014, doi:10.1186/1741-7015-12-78
Farr, Susan A et al.
Extra virgin olive oil improves learning and memory in SAMP8 mice.Journal of Alzheimers disease : JADvol.
28,1 (2012): 81-92. doi:10.3233/JAD-2011-110662
Schwingshackl, L et al.
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