Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is The Healthiest Fat Choice For Sporting Champions

Wimbledon Great Nadal Calls Extra Virgin Olive Oil An Essential Dietary Choice.

^{Updated June 24th 2024}

Why Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is Beneficial For Athletes

Wimbledon is almost here and, as we watch the top tennis stars battle it out in SW19, we wanted to look at why extra virgin olive oil is an excellent addition to the diet of high-performance athletes.

One of Wimbledon’s superstars, Rafael Nadal, has recently described extra virgin olive oil as an “essential” element of his diet.  And he’s not alone.

High-performance athletes like Nadal are always on the lookout for that extra edge and Extra virgin olive oil is becoming renowned as a go-to product to keep them in winning shape.

Rafael Nadal, arguably one of the greatest tennis players of all time, attributes part of his success to his diet, which includes extra virgin olive oil.

As reported in Newsrebeat, Nadal said:

Wherever I am, I always look for olives or extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is an essential food for me. Every morning I make croutons with olive oil for breakfast, and at lunch and dinner I usually eat salad or fish, always with a splash of extra virgin olive oil.

“It is an immovable part of my diet and my way of eating. Combining a balanced diet with sports makes you a better person, makes you feel better.’

Rafael Nadal

Nadal’s preference for Extra Virgin Olive Oil may also be rooted in his Mediterranean heritage. The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, is known for its numerous health benefits. Research indicates that this diet can improve cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, and even enhance cognitive function—all crucial for peak athletic performance.

Nadal isn’t alone. Several other top-tier athletes, from cyclists to footballers, have also endorsed Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Their testimonials often highlight improved energy levels, better digestion, and faster recovery times. It’s clear that this isn’t just a passing trend but a well-substantiated dietary choice.

One of the primary reasons Extra Virgin Olive Oil stands out is its high content of monounsaturated fats. These fats are known to lower bad cholesterol levels without affecting the good cholesterol. For athletes, this means better heart health and improved endurance. Unlike saturated fats, which can clog arteries, monounsaturated fats offer a cleaner, more efficient energy source.

Extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radicals. It’s also a good source of healthy fat, which can provide energy and support muscle growth. In addition, olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation and pain after exercise. Researchers are now investigating whether consuming extra virgin olive oil before or during exercise can improve athletic performance. So far, the evidence suggests that it can help improve endurance and strength, as well as reduce the risk of injuries.

Extra virgin olive oil has several benefits that help you take care of your health in the long term. In addition, it can also fight inflammation and oxidative stress. This is largely due to the number of vitamins, such as K and D that protect bones, and minerals than the rest. .of oils

Athletes like cyclists, long distance runners, tennis players and other high-performance sports and exercise enthusiasts stress their heart out more than the average person, so it’s beneficial to add nutrients to your diet that protect it.   While blood clotting is a natural and healthy process required for the healing of wounds and prevention of excessive bleeding, clotting in the arteries can ultimately result in a heart attack or stroke.

One risk factor for unwanted clotting in our arteries is excessive clumping together of our platelet blood cells. This clumping process is also called “aggregation.” Regular incorporation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil into a meal plan has been shown to lessen the risk of this excessive aggregation, and the reason that researchers refer to Extra Virgin Olive Oil as an “anti-aggregatory” oil.

How Does Extra Virgin Olive Oil Improve Athletic Performance

Enhancing Endurance

Endurance is the backbone of any athlete’s performance. The healthy fats in Extra Virgin Olive Oil are metabolized slowly, providing a sustained energy release. This is particularly beneficial for endurance athletes like marathon runners and cyclists who require long-lasting fuel.

Boosting Mental Focus

Athletic performance isn’t just about physical strength; mental clarity and focus are equally important. The antioxidants and healthy fats in Extra Virgin Olive Oil support brain health, improving cognitive function and focus. This can be the difference between winning and losing, as split-second decisions often determine the outcome of a game or race.

Aiding Muscle Recovery

Recovery is a crucial aspect of any training program. Extra Virgin Olive Oil’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties accelerate muscle recovery, allowing athletes to train harder and more frequently. Faster recovery times mean less downtime and more consistent improvements in performance.

The Science Behind EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL and Athletic Performance

Studies and Research

Numerous studies support the benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for athletes. Research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that diets rich in monounsaturated fats could improve metabolic health, enhancing athletic performance. Another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlighted the anti-inflammatory benefits, showing reduced markers of inflammation in athletes who regularly consumed Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Expert Opinions

Leading nutritionists and sports scientists advocate for the inclusion of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in athletes’ diets. Dr. Sarah Brewer, a renowned nutrition expert, notes that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a “triple-threat” for athletes, offering energy, reducing inflammation, and providing essential nutrients. Her recommendations are backed by years of clinical research and practical applications in sports nutrition.

Practical Applications

Incorporating Extra Virgin Olive Oil into your diet doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple swaps, like using Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead of butter or other oils in cooking, can make a significant difference. Additionally, drizzling Extra Virgin Olive Oil over salads, pasta, or even smoothies can enhance both flavor and nutritional value.

The other broad area of cardiovascular benefits involves improved levels of circulating fats in our bloodstream, as well as protection of those fats from oxygen-related damage. Decreased levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol following consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil are findings are the vast majority of studies that have analysed this relationship.

Yet equally important, the cholesterol molecules that remain in our blood also appear to be better protected from oxygen-related damage (oxidation). Since fats and cholesterol belong to a broader technical category called “lipids,” damage to the fats and cholesterol in our blood stream is typically referred to as “lipid peroxidation.” And it is precisely this lipid peroxidation process that gets reduced through incorporation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil into a meal plan.

It is crucial that the organs and tissues of the body receive proper blood supply. Lack of oxygen means death, therefore having a healthy cardiovascular system is vital for life. In most cases, cardiovascular disease can be prevented or greatly diminished through behavioural modifications. Individuals wishing to improve cardiovascular health should consume a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and abstain from smoking.

Imagine your body as a highly complex, high-performance engine. High quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil like Morocco Gold is natures highest performance engine oil, to keep your body well- tuned and running smoothly over a lifetime.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Chronic inflammation can be a significant barrier to athletic performance. The polyphenols in Extra Virgin Olive Oil have potent anti-inflammatory effects, comparable to some over-the-counter medications. Regular consumption can help athletes maintain their training regimens without the setbacks of inflammation-related issues.

Monounsaturated fats are also anti-inflammatory, which helps with muscle recovery. Working out can cause micro-tears in your muscles, which can lead to inflammation, muscle pain, and soreness, but anti-inflammatories can help calm that reaction.

Plus, vitamin E is an antioxidant that many of us don’t get enough of. This nutrient helps boost your immune system and protect your body against heart disease and certain types of cancer. In addition, antioxidants protect your cells against damage, especially those in your muscles and lungs, which are extremely important when it comes to your athletic performance.

Vitamin K is important for absorbing fats like the monounsaturated ones in olive oil. If you don’t get enough of this vitamin, your body will have trouble using it effectively.

So, imagine your body is a high-performance engine. Keeping it topped up with natures highest performing ‘engine oil’ will ensure smooth performance for decades to come.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil And Muscle recovery

Muscles have a hard time during athletic training and need immediate recovery, which includes repair, strengthening and muscle building. EVOO is better than other fat sources in helping cells absorb cholesterol and convert it to testosterone. This is critical to the body’s muscle building process. Moreover, its combination of oleic acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids work together to build bone tissue and allow the body to regenerate.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Improved Bone Health

Decreased risk of bone fracture and better overall bone health is another area of increasing interest in Extra Virgin Olive Oil research.

One recent study compared the number of bone fractures in a group of 870 study participants over a period of seven years to see if intake of Extra Virgin Olive Oil was associated with the number of reported bone fractures. Results allowed the researchers to divide this large group into three categories.

In terms of their Extra Virgin Olive Oil intake, the lowest third of the study participants averaged 38 grams of Extra Virgin Olive Oil per day, approximately 3 tablespoons. The middle third averaged nearly 4 tablespoons (48 grams), and the top third averaged about 4.5 tablespoons (57 grams).

Participants in the highest category of Extra Virgin Olive Oil intake reported 51% fewer fractures than participants in the lowest category of Extra Virgin Olive Oil intake. Bone health or healthy bones is a serious modern condition. Anyone experiencing or at risk of the effects of osteoporosis should talk to their doctor. And determine the appropriate course of treatment.