What makes Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil So Special?
Updated September 9th 2025
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Polyphenols In Extra Virgin Olive Oil
There are many reasons why people choose extra virgin olive oil like Morocco Gold over other oils. Whether you enjoy extra virgin olive as part of a healthy diet, for its flavour, or because of its well-documented health benefits, this is an oil backed by science. In fact, extra virgin olive oil is one of the most extensively researched foods in the world, with strong evidence for its role in supporting overall health. Choosing a high polyphenol olive oil from reputable producers ensures you enjoy the maximum benefits in both taste and nutrition.
What Makes Extra Virgin Olive Oil So Healthy?
While other oils such as sunflower and canola contain monounsaturated fats, extra virgin olive oil stands apart because of its unique natural compounds. The main reason this oil is recognised as so healthy is its rich content of olive oil polyphenols. These powerful antioxidants provide anti inflammatory properties and protective effects that go beyond the benefits of fatty acids alone. When you add extra virgin to your diet, you’re making a choice proven to support long-term wellness.
The global interest in the Mediterranean diet has led to an explosion of research into the potential health benefits of olive oil consumption. Clinical studies confirm that the polyphenol content in virgin olive oil plays a key role in reducing oxidative damage, improving cardiovascular health, and lowering the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease. By choosing a higher polyphenol content oil, you benefit from more concentrated antioxidant properties that help to protect your body against chronic inflammation.
What Are Polyphenols?
Polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil belong to a family of more than 500 natural micronutrients found in plants. These phenolic compounds not only give plants their colour but also help defend them from harm. When you consume oils rich in these polyphenol compounds, you experience their beneficial effects too. From reducing oxidative damage to supporting cardiovascular disease prevention, the antioxidant polyphenols in quality virgin olive give you a clear reason to choose oils with a high concentration of these nutrients.
Polyphenols in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Polyphenols: Powerful Antioxidants
Polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil are among the most important natural compounds found in the oil. They are recognised as one of the strongest contributors to its health benefits, making virgin olive oil far more than a cooking ingredient. If you are looking for an oil with genuine protective effects, a higher polyphenol content is what sets premium products apart.
Many of the fruits and vegetables you eat contain polyphenol compounds and other powerful antioxidants. These natural polyphenols support your body by fighting oxidative stress and promoting overall health. Olive oil polyphenols are especially valuable because they combine easily with fats, improving absorption and maximising their beneficial effects. Choosing a high concentration oil such as Morocco Gold means you are investing in your long-term wellbeing.
Why Are Antioxidants So Important?
Oxidation is a normal process in your cells as they generate energy from the oxygen you breathe. Yet as energy is produced, unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals also form. In high amounts, these free radicals damage cells and DNA. Ongoing oxidative stress has been linked to many diseases such as:
- Certain cancer cells and tumour growth
- Cardiovascular disease and heart disease
- Diabetes and metabolic syndrome
- Osteoporosis
- Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia
- Signs of ageing, including wrinkles
By choosing refined olive oils with a high polyphenol count, you help your body defend itself against this damage. Regular use in your diet is one of the simplest ways to support your overall health while enjoying the taste of premium oil.
So How Do Antioxidants Fit In To Our Overall Health?
Antioxidants are chemicals known to be ‘molecular scavengers’ that help neutralise oxygen free radicals, thus preventing oxidative stress from occurring. There are hundreds of known antioxidants, some of which we consume in our daily diets:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Selenium
- Manganese
- Carotenoids
- And….POLYPHENOLS?
Studies suggest that polyphenols contribute to anti-inflammatory effects and reducing blood pressure. This is also associated with a lower risk of several chronic diseases.
They also protect the olive oil from oxidative damage and contribute to its superior longevity and shelf life. They also affect the taste of extra virgin olive oil and give it its distinctive bitter flavour.
Polyphenols In Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The high polyphenol content of Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil is the result of three essential factors: the olive variety, the climate and terroir of the growing region, and the precise time of harvest. Together, these elements ensure our oil delivers higher polyphenol levels and the best possible health benefits.
Morocco Gold is produced exclusively from the Picholine Marocaine, a distinctive olive variety renowned for its high concentration of polyphenols compared with others. This is one reason our oil stands apart from many other virgin olive oils on the market, usually made from a Spanish or Italian olive variety.
Our olives grow in a valley around 2,000 feet above sea level. These conditions create natural climatic stress, which increases the tree’s production of natural polyphenols. In addition, the soils in this area are rich in naturally occurring phenols. Over time, these natural compounds break down and transform into humic acids that enhance plant physiology. This unique environment encourages our trees to absorb and circulate more phenols, ultimately enriching the fruit itself with a higher polyphenol content.
Finally, harvest timing plays a key role. We pick our olives when they are young and green, at the stage where polyphenol levels are at their peak. Although older olives yield more oil, their phenolic compounds diminish. By harvesting at the optimum time, our farmers ensure Morocco Gold provides both superior flavour and maximum antioxidant polyphenols.
The Polyphenol Count in Morocco Gold
Over the last seven years, Morocco Gold has consistently delivered a polyphenol count well above 600 mg/kg, typically around 650 mg/kg. This is considered a high polyphenol olive oil, ensuring you enjoy more of the beneficial effects linked to premium extra virgin olive oil consumption.
The following research suggests these polyphenols in olive oil contribute to protection against cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation, cancer prevention, and even reduced risk of cognitive decline. By choosing Morocco Gold, you are selecting an oil with proven protective effects that supports your overall health while elevating the taste of every dish.
In fact the European Food Safety Authority has now approved health claims for extra virgin olive oils with polyphenol content of more than 250mg / kg. Morocco Gold olive oil has high polyphenols well above this level.
Source: European Food Safety Authority
Healthy Compounds In Extra Virgin Olive Oil Still Present After Exposure To Heat
New research confirms the key components in extra virgin olive oil survive temperature. The most healthy compounds found in extra virgin olive oil do not disappear when the oil is used for cooking, according to new research published in the scientific journal, Antioxidants. The implication may have an impact on future nutritional guidelines.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona focused on evaluating how the attributes of olive oil change when it is used for sautéing in a household kitchen. After cooking at a moderate temperature, (polyphenols and antioxidants) were still in the oil and in concentrations high enough to meet the E.U. parameters, meaning this oil should be used for cooking.– Julián Lozano Castellón, project coordinator