What are polyphenols and why are they important

Recent testing and analysis in line with the European Parliaments’ regulation 1924/2006, of our extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) resulted in incredibly high levels of polyphenols reaching 866mg/kg. The polyphenol content of olive oil must be higher than 250mg/kg to be officially classified as healthy. 

So what are polyphenols and what does this high concentration mean for your health?

Polyphenols are micronutrients found in certain plant-based foods including some extra virgin olive oils. There is substantial evidence that specific polyphenols benefit health status, including the prevention and management of certain chronic diseases. Recently the scoring of the world’s best olive oils has changed focus onto the health benefits of the EVOO. Scores are now based 70% on phenolic concentration and 30% on taste and premium olive oils must be strong, fruity and fragrant which must be balanced with a well-rounded bittersweet flavour. 

There are many structurally distinct phenolic compounds in EVOO and variation in phenolic concentration exists between differing virgin olive oils due to a number of factors including: variety of the olive fruit, region in which the olive fruit is grown, agricultural techniques used to cultivate the olive fruit, maturity of the olive fruit at harvest, olive oil extraction, processing, and storage methods as well as the time since harvest. On average, olive oil pressed from the olives grown in Greece has the highest concentration of polyphenols of any olive oil produced anywhere else in the world. 

The two most significant polyphenols in EVOO are oleocanthal which is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and oleacein which is an antioxidant. They have been shown to be highly bioavailable (easily absorbed and used by the body), reinforcing their health promoting properties. Oxidation is a biochemical process in which free radicals are formed, which damage cells and DNA, promoting inflammation. Antioxidants help to neutralise free radicals in our bodies and boost overall wellbeing.

It is true that EVOO is an ancient food with space age qualities that modern science is just beginning to fully understand.

These polyphenols initiate a cascade of chemical reactions in our body which are responsible for the regulation of chemical pathways for a variety of bodily functions from reducing inflammation and the risk of developing inflammatory disease, suppressing oxidative stress to maintaining cellular health. They have beneficial effects on the markers of cancer, atherosclerosis and also genes related to obesity and metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis and diabetes. 

So, polyphenols are strong antioxidants that complement and add to the functions of antioxidant vitamins and enzymes to reduce, counteract and also repair damage resulting from oxidative stress and inflammation associated with many disease conditions. They also work via our gut microbes that make up our microbiome. This is the community of trillions of diverse bacteria which live in our large intestine and they feed off the different polyphenols and produce other small chemicals (short chain fatty acids) that dampen down inflammation and help our immune system. So, the polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil are superb gut microbe fertilisers and improve gut health which also significantly impacts our overall health.

There is compelling evidence to suggest that EVOO high in polyphenols should be the primary source of fat in your diet and to experience the real benefits of the polyphenols in our olive oil, we suggest you consume 40-80mls of Olea per day. 

We cannot recommend more highly the benefits of more broadly adopting a Mediterranean Diet (the most well-researched diet in the world) for your general health and prevention of chronic disease. Your choice of EVOO is paramount to achieving optimum health and wellness, preventing chronic disease and maintaining an optimum weight - which is why you should choose Olea of Monemvasia.  

Get inspired by some of our Mediterranean recipes here.