Can Foods Rich In Extra Virgin Olive Oil Help Young Brains?
Updated September 26th 2024
Summary
- Homemade snacks, inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, including extra virgin olive oil, are a great source of nutrition for young brains.
- Incorporating Extra Virgin Olive Oil into your child’s diet can help protect their brain cells from damage – important during the early years when brain development is at its peak.
- The monounsaturated fats in olive oil improve blood flow to the brain, ensuring it gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function optimally.
Contents
Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Brain Health
When it comes to nourishing young brains, the Mediterranean diet is a goldmine, especially when it includes extra virgin olive oil. This liquid gold isn’t just for drizzling on salads; it’s the secret ingredient that can turn everyday snacks into brain-boosting powerhouses.
But how exactly does it benefit young minds? Let’s explore the science and practical tips behind incorporating this nutritious oil into your family’s snack time.
Preparing healthy snacks for your children every day can be quite a task but, by upgrading some of their favourites with the best olive oil in your cupboard, you can add flavour and health benefits to breaktime!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a great pairing choice with many of our favourite snacks, whether that be popcorn, flatbread or granola as shown in this great summary from spoonuniversity.com.
Snacking With Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Young Brains
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is often hailed as a superfood, and for good reason. Rich in monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds, EVOO offers numerous health benefits that go beyond heart health. Research suggests that these nutrients are crucial for brain development and function, making EVOO an essential part of a child’s diet.
Studies show that the polyphenols in olive oil can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are linked to cognitive decline. By incorporating EVOO into your child’s diet, you can help protect their brain cells from damage and support overall brain health. This is particularly important during the early years when brain development is at its peak.
Additionally, the monounsaturated fats in olive oil improve blood flow to the brain, ensuring it gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function optimally. This can enhance cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
We all know that children’s minds need to be well fed to grow and olive oil can help young brains when used to create nutritious snacks.
The Mediterranean Diet, with its emphasis on plant-based foods and omega-3 fatty acids, including extra virgin olive oil, has been listed in a new report on foods that children can snack on to boost brain activity and concentration.
According to the list, entitled 7 Lunch Foods That Can Improve Your Kid’s Focus At School, from UKTodayNews, the principles of The Mediterranean Diet can be applied to a range of school lunches to boost academic focus.
Speaking with UKTodayNews, dietitian Monica Auslander Moreno said: “Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for growing brains.” A high quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil such as Morocco Gold contains a considerable amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
According to the article, the full list of foods which nutritionists most recommend for school lunches are:
- Oranges
- Canned salmon
- Roast Beef
- Walnuts and Fresh Blueberries
- A Black Bean and Veggie Burrito
- Dips and Sticks
- Almond Butter and Berry Sandwiches
Specialist contributors explain that these foods contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins c and b, zinc and antioxidants. These can support children’s gut microbiome, immune system, and help provide sustainable energy levels to prevent a blood sugar spike and crash which could lead to problems during the school day.
Snacking doesn’t have to be unhealthy. In fact, it can be an opportunity to sneak in some essential nutrients. Incorporating EVOO into your child’s snacks is a simple and delicious way to boost their brain health. Here are some easy snacks that can be enhanced with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil:
- Hummus and Veggie Sticks: Hummus is already a nutrient-rich dip, but adding a splash of EVOO can enhance its health benefits. Pair it with crunchy veggie sticks like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers for a colorful, brain-boosting snack.
- Avocado Toast: Spread mashed avocado on whole-grain toast and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. This snack is not only delicious but also packed with healthy fats and fiber that support brain health.
- Yogurt with Olive Oil and Honey: Plain yogurt topped with a drizzle of EVOO and a touch of honey makes for a creamy, satisfying snack. The combination of protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants is perfect for young brains.
These snacks are not only nutritious but also easy to prepare, making them ideal for busy parents looking to give their kids a healthy start.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Brain Health Throughout Life
The benefits of EVOO extend beyond childhood. Incorporating this healthy fat into your diet can support brain health throughout life. Studies have shown that adults who consume a Mediterranean diet rich in extra virgin olive oil have a lower risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
EVOO’s anti-inflammatory properties play a significant role in maintaining brain health as we age. Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases, and the antioxidants in olive oil can help combat this. By making EVOO a staple in your family’s diet, you’re not only supporting your child’s brain development but also protecting your own brain health.
Incorporating EVOO into your daily meals can be as simple as using it as a salad dressing, cooking oil, or even a dip for bread. The versatility of olive oil makes it easy to enjoy its benefits at every stage of life.
At Morocco Gold, we believe it’s worth introducing children to a Mediterranean Diet at a young age as it could encourage nutritional choices that can benefit their brains later in life.
Good Brain Health Comes From The Best Olive Oil
According to new research, extra virgin olive oil could reduce the risks of dementia, and boost memory and cognitive skills. It has always been linked to healthy eating, but researchers at Temple University as well as Sapienza University of Rome now say it could boost our brain’s health too. Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil look a bit closer.
It has long been a staple of the Mediterranean diet, and has long been praised by nutritionists for it’s benefits to the cardiovascular system, but compared to coconut and avocado oils, extra virgin olive oil could help maintain our memory skill as we get older, and could significantly reduce the risk of dementia in our later years.
It is one of many foods recently linked to dementia risk reduction, according to a separate study by the Rush University in Chicago. The top foods for healthy brains also included pears, wine, kale, beans, tea, spinach, and broccoli.
The research involved laboratory tests on mice, and suggested that the purest form of olive oil breaks down the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain. There has yet to be found a singular cause for dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, but many experts have regarded the presence of tau, a kind of protein that can disrupt communication functions in the brain, as a marker for the disease.
The newly-published research found that diets high in extra virgin olive oil can effectively decrease the build-up of tau and possibly slow or stop advancing neurodegenerative diseases.
Extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants and has been known to decrease inflammation; its potential mental health properties are the latest addition to a laundry list of holistic benefits. Many home cooks choose to use it in place of other oils when sautéing and pan frying, but simply pairing it with vegetables in your daily diet could provide the same health benefits touted by medical professionals. If you’re wanting to eat healthier, and maintain a healthy mind too, then introduce Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil to your diet and cuisine.
One way to encourage the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil at an early age – healthy popcorn!
Every parent on the planet will at one time or another struggled to get their kids to eat a particular food ‘because it’s good for you’ – only to be told – ‘but it’s YUCKY!!’
Here’s where a bit of parental subterfuge comes in.
A big bowl of freshly made popcorn never seems to go out of fashion with children of all ages (and plenty of adults too!). As long as it’s air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is a whole grain and high fibre snack – making it a good choice for lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Did you know that popcorn contains more fibre per serving than whole-wheat bread?
Speaking to heart.org, Maya Vadiveloo, an assistant professor in the department of nutrition and food sciences at the University of Rhode Island said: “When prepared well, popcorn actually is a pretty good snack. It’s stable. It’s inexpensive. It’s fairly tasty. For people who might be struggling to eat adequate fruits or vegetables or other whole grains, it’s a low-risk snack to start.”
Kids love to fill their bellies with snacks. The challenge is to let them have healthy snacks that will not create the habits that lead to childhood obesity.
Best olive oil like Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil is an unsaturated fat rather than a saturated fat. This means that it is the heathy kind of fat and a great source of energy. It is also rich in health enhancing polyphenols that look after your digestive system and cardiovascular system even from a very early age.
So, what better way to set off your popcorn with a healthy drizzle of the best extra virgin olive oil such as Morocco Gold? – Here’s how:
Ingredients
- 2 tbs Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup corn kernels, 110g
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Use a 2.8L pot, pour the extra virgin olive oil and allow it to spread on the whole bottom surface.
- Add the corn kernels and place the lid slightly open.
- Place the pot on high heat and allow the kernels to pop. It should take 5min from the time the pot is exposed to heat.
- At least once throughout the cooking, carefully shake the pot (holding down the lid and then open it slightly again to allow for more space for the kernels to pop. Allow the lid to be open a bit so that steam doesn’t build up and so that the popcorn doesn’t soak up the extra moisture
- A good way to know that the kernels are all cooked, is when the popping sound is not as frequent. Be careful you don’t burn them. The pot size is perfect for the amount of kernels listed above. However, if you have a smaller pot and the popcorn overflows, you may empty the popcorn quickly in a bowl and return the remainder of the kernels on the heat to cook.
- As soon as the popcorn is ready, place them in a heatproof bowl and season them with salt to taste while they are hot
