Six Reasons Extra Virgin Olive Oil Appeals To Health Conscious Foodies Worldwide
Extra virgin olive oil has become a staple kitchen ingredient worldwide, not only for its delicious flavor but also for its health benefits.
With these awesome advantages, extra virgin olive oil is now more popular than ever and top chefs are making the most of it in their recipes to give dishes that distinctive Mediterranean flair.
From helping protect your heart health, lowering “bad” cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation in the body, consuming extra virgin olive oil daily has been dubbed one of the best food choices you can make for yourself by leading nutritionists everywhere. Read on to find out why everyone loves this amazing superfood!
According to a recent poll on Statista.com the top five consumers of olive oil worldwide from in 2022/2023 were:
- European Union
- United States
- Turkey
- China
- Other
Why Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is Increasing Popular Worldwide
At Morocco Gold, we know there are a wealth of reasons why extra virgin olive oil has become a go-to kitchen stable the world over. But here six of the best!
1. Rich in antioxidants and healthy monounsaturated fats
The different types of antioxidants (or polyphenols) in Extra Virgin olive oil (EVOO), include oleuropein, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, oleocanthal and oleacein. Each are extremely strong antioxidants with a number of health benefits. Olive Oil is one of the richest sources of monounsaturated fatty acids. Monounsaturated fats—omega-6s in the case of olive oil—are important because they help boost heart health. This is important for helping prevent health issues such as cardiovascular disease or stroke.
2. Can help reduce inflammation and promote heart health
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is full of antioxidants and essential fatty acids like omega-3s that can help protect your cells from damage and reduce swelling. In this post, we’ll explore why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the most beneficial foods when it comes to reducing inflammation in the body, as well as looking at the other top anti-inflammatory food choices.
3. Versatile cooking ingredient – can be used to make salad dressings, sauces, marinades, and more
Extra virgin olive oil is truly a versatile cooking ingredient. It is a go-to in any kitchen for many reasons. Its flavor is both rich and subtle, making it the perfect choice for salad dressings, sauces, and marinades. But its versatility doesn’t stop there. Extra virgin olive oil is great for sautéing, grilling, and baking too. There are endless possibilities for this amazing ingredient and its uses are only limited by your imagination. You can’t go wrong with having extra virgin olive oil in your pantry. Its versatility makes it a must-have for any home chef.
4. Low smoke point makes it an ideal oil to use for sautéing vegetables over high heat
According to The Mediterranean Dish, Extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of between 374 and 405 degrees F (190 to 207 degrees C). While this is a bit lower than other oils, it is still safe to cook and even bake with quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Good quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) will also have a higher smoke point than its lower-quality counterparts. And we agree. Morocco Gold is a great choice for many cooking methods as its smoke point is somewhere around 374 – 405 °F (190–207°C).
5. Great source of vitamins E and K, as well as other essential minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc
If you suffer from dry skin, extra virgin olive oil penetrates deep into the skin providing needed moisture as well as a shield to protect your skin, keeping it smooth. The oil contains vitamins A and E which is great for protecting your skin from daily tribulations. Rich in vitamins A, D and E and fatty acids, extra virgin olive oil contains powerful antioxidants that protect the scalp from free radicals and deep nourishes the hair cuticles, resulting in shinier and softer locks.
Natural flavor enhancer – gives dishes a subtle hint of nutty or fruity flavor without added calories or fat
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a great way to add flavour to your dishes and if you’re looking for the flavours of Morocco, our oil is a great place to start. As well as stocking your pantry with a quality extra virgin olive oil, add a selection of Moroccan spices like saffron, cinnamon, cumin, coriander and red pepper flakes, preserved lemons, olives and several types of nuts. By having these few key ingredients on hand, you can easily whip up Moroccan dishes like couscous with raisins and almonds or a fragrant tagine-style stew.
Production Of Olive Oil Across The World
According to the International Olive Council (IOC), the world production of olive oil has tripled in the last 60 years to reach 3,266,500 tons in the 2019/20 crop year. The provisional data for 2020/21 point to a 7.9% fall in production for a volume of 3,010,000 tons. The estimates for the 2021/22 crop year put production at 3,098,500 tons 1.
The IOC member countries produced 2,809,500 tons of olive oil in the 2020/21 crop year, which accounts for 93.3% of the world total.
Spain produced the highest amount of olive oil with 1,389,000 tons, followed by Italy with 273,500 tons, Greece with 275,000 tons, and Portugal with 100,000 tons 1.
The consumption of olive oil worldwide was 2.8 million metric tons in 2019/20 and is expected to reach 3.2 million metric tons by 2022/23 2. Turkey was the third-largest consumer of olive oil worldwide in 2022/23 3.
