Another Health Enhancing Polyphenol In Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Updated May 26th 2023
Summary:
- Extra virgin olive oil may be considered as a medicine as well as a food
- Extra virgin olive oil EVOO effects on health are often attributed to its unique mixture of phenolic compounds with tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol being the most biologically active.
- Along with hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol is one of the most abundant polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil.
- As an antioxidant, tyrosol can protect cells against injury due to oxidation.
- Studies have shown that tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol are absorbed from realistic doses of extra virgin olive oil.
- The health benefits can be achieved with as little as 2 tablespoons of Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) per day.
Contents:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Food, Medicine Or Both?
- The Importance Of Polyphenols In Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Tyrosol : A Key Polyphenol In Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Health Benefits Of Polyphenol Tyrosol
- Study Into The Absorption Of Polyphenols Tyrosol And Hydroxytyrosol
- How Much Extra Virgin Olive Oil Should I Take? – Food Safety Authority Recommendation
Extra Virgin Olive Oil : Food, Medicine Or Both?
Extra virgin olive oil has been praised as one of the best oils for a healthy lifestyle, but is it just a foodstuff or can it also be considered a medicine? The truth is that extra virgin olive oil is both. This highest quality olive oil is full of polyphenols that are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. The benefits that come with consuming extra virgin olive oil daily are endless, from improving heart health to promoting brain function. Incorporating this amazing oil into your diet can not only enhance your meal’s flavor but also provide countless health benefits, making it a wonderful foodstuff and medicine.
The Importance Of Polyphenols In Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is known for its exceptional taste, but did you know that it’s also packed with health benefits? One reason for this is its high content of polyphenols and antioxidants. Polyphenols, which are natural plant chemicals, have been found to have numerous health-promoting properties, such as reducing inflammation and protecting against chronic diseases. Antioxidants, on the other hand, are substances that help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals, which can contribute to the development of cancer and other diseases. So not only does extra virgin olive oil add flavor to your meals, but it can also be a powerful tool for promoting good health.
Tyrosol: A Key Polyphenol In Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) consumption has been traditionally related to a higher longevity in the human population. Extra virgin olive oil EVOO effects on health are often attributed to its unique mixture of phenolic compounds with tyrosol and hydroxityrosol being the most biologically active.
Tyrosol is a phenylethanoid, a derivative of phenethyl alcohol. It is a natural phenolic antioxidant present in a variety of natural sources. The principal source for human diet is in high quality extra virgin olive oil like Morocco Gold. As an antioxidant, tyrosol can protect cells against injury due to oxidation.
Along with hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol is one of the most abundant polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil, where they occur as such, or in the form of esters of elenolic acid. There is an increasing level of research into these polyphenols and their properties to determine which is the most significant contributor towards the range of health benefits associated with high quality extra virgin olive oil.
Tyrosol is a colourless solid at room temperature, melting at 91–92°C and slightly soluble in water. Hydroxytyrosol on the other hand appears as a clear colourless liquid at room temperature. It is now believed that this affects the rate of ‘uptake’ when ingested with hydoxytyrosol acting more quickly in the gut, however tyrosol accumululating intercellularly over time to provide longer term protection due to its higher concentration and good bioavailability.
Source: Tyrosol – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Source: www.sciencedirect.com
Health Benefits Of Polyphenol Tyrosol
Its beneficial properties for human health are strongly related to the ability of the molecule to scavenge free radicals and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species as well as to activate endogenous antioxidant systems in the body. Free radical scavenging properties have been convincingly confirmed in studies on rats with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus.
Tyrosol has been shown to be able to exert antioxidant activity in in-vitro studies. Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) appears to occur predominantly in arterial intima in microdomains sequestered from antioxidants of plasma. The antioxidant content of the LDL particle is critical for its protection. Thus, phenolics, which are able to bind LDL, could be effective in preventing lipid peroxidation and atherosclerotic processes.
The ability of tyrosol to bind human LDL has been reported. Studies have demonstrated the bioavailability of tyrosol in humans from extra virgin olive oil in its natural form.
Although these compounds have been extensively studied in terms of their antioxidant potential and its role in different pathologies, their actual connection with longevity remains unexplored.
This study utilized the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the possible effects of tyrosol in metazoan longevity. Significant lifespan extension was observed at one specific tyrosol concentration, which also induced a higher resistance to thermal and oxidative stress and delayed the appearance of a biomarker of ageing.
We also report that, although tyrosol was efficiently taken up by these nematodes, it did not induce changes in development, body length or reproduction. In addition, lifespan experiments with several mutant strains revealed that components of the heat shock response (HSF-1) and the insulin pathway (DAF-2 and DAF-16) might be implicated in mediating tyrosol effects in lifespan, while caloric restriction and sirtuins do not seem to mediate its effects. Together, our results point to hormesis as a possible mechanism to explain the effects of tyrosol on longevity in C. elegans.
Study Into The Absorption Of Polyphenols Tyrosol And Hydroxytyrosol
This study was carried out by Federació de Cooperatives Agràries de Catalunya.
The objective, using seven healthy volunteers was to investigate the absorption levels of both polyphenols tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol from both single and sustained doses of extra virgin olive oil consumption. The study also aimed to investigate whether these phenolic compounds could be used as biomarkers for extra virgin olive oil intake.
The study involve ingestion of a single dose of extra virgin olive oil (50 ml). Thereafter, for a week, participants followed their usual diet which included 25 ml/day of the same extra virgin olive oil as the source of raw fat.
The results showed an increase in 24 h urine of both polyphenols tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, after both a single-dose ingestion (50 ml) and short-term consumption (one week, 25 ml/day) of extra virgin olive oil.
Urinary recoveries for tyrosol were similar after a single dose and after sustained doses of extra virgin olive oil. Mean recovery values for hydroxytyrosol after sustained doses were 1.5-fold those obtained after a single 50 ml dose.
The study concluded that tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol are absorbed from realistic doses of extra virgin olive oil. With regard to the dose–effect relationship, 24 h urinary tyrosol seems to be a better biomarker of sustained and moderate doses of virgin olive oil consumption than hydroxytyrosol.
How Much Extra Virgin Olive Oil Should I Take? – Food Safety Authority Recommendation
The European Food Safety Authority has now approved health claims for extra virgin olive oils with polyphenol content of more than 250mg / kg. The health benefits can be achieved with between 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil per day.
Morocco Gold contains polyphenols well above this level, so the health benefits can be achieved with as little as 2 tablespoons per day.
This continues our series of articles about the polyphenol content of our new harvest extra virgin olive oil and what they can do to improve our health. As we have reported, this year’s harvest has produced a low acidity level of 0.2% together with the highest level of polyphenols yet seen in our extra virgin olive oil of 644 mg/kg
