Polyphenols - the Superfood abounding in Extra Virgin Olive Oil!
Superfoods tend to be trendy. Every few months, there is a new superfood that promises to cure all our ailments. However, there are a few superfoods that are scientifically documented to bring measurable and concise benefits to our health. One of these superfoods are Polyphenols. Many studies have been conducted by reputable sources confirming the incredible health benefits of Polyphenols. When it comes to our health, there is no magical pill. But there are many little things we can implement into our daily lives that when all pieced together, can contribute to improved health, longevity and quality of life. Polyphenols are a crucial piece of our health puzzle which are surprisingly easy to add to our daily diet!
What are Polyphenols?
Polyphenols are micronutrients that occur naturally in plants and offer a variety of health benefits and are considered a lifespan essential nutrient. While many supplements contain polyphenols, the most efficient way to absorb polyphenols is in their natural form: by eating polyphenol rich foods. Polyphenols are a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent and even reverse damage caused to our cells by aging, our environment and our lifestyle.
What are the Health-Benefits of Polyphenols?
- Improve Heart Health - help reduce chronic inflammation of the heart vessels, lower bad cholesterol levels, help manage blood pressure, promote good circulation, and keep your blood vessels healthy and flexible.
- Lower Blood Sugar Levels - help prevent the breakdown of starch into simple sugars lowering the likelihood of blood sugar spikes after meals and thereby preventing onset of diabetes. Stimulates the production of insulin and can lower insulin resistance.
- Strengthen Immune System - helps balance good gut bacteria that are essential for a strong immune system to combat infections and diseases.
- Prevent Blood Clots - help prevent blood platelets from clumping together and forming blood clots that can cause deep vein thrombosis, stroke and pulmonary embolisms.
- Protect against Cancer - strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help block the growth and development of various cancer cells. More studies are currently underway to further explore this correlation.
- Promotes Healthy Digestion - promotes growth of beneficial gut bacteria while fighting off harmful bacteria. Helps probiotics thrive and survive the gut environment. Improves symptoms of peptic ulcer disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Promotes Brain Function - boost focus, improves working memory and attention spans; linked to improved brain activity and short-term memory in patients suffering from dementia; considered beneficial in the prevention of Alzheimers.
Polyphenol Rich Foods
Some of the most common foods rich in Polyphenols are: berries, green apples, pomegranates, lemons, broccoli, carrots, spinach, black beans, almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, oats, cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, ginger, green tea, red wine and our favorite, olives and extra virgin olive oil.
The type and amount of polyphenols found in each food will vary depending on its origin, ripeness, methods of farming, transportation, storage and preparation.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil can be exceptionally high in valuable Polyphenols depending on a few factors: how old the EVOO is, what kind of cultivar or type of olives the oil is derived from, how the olives were fertilized/treated, at what level of ripeness the olives were harvested and the method used to mill the olives into EVOO (cold-pressed, added water during milling process etc). Make sure your EVOO is of excellent quality and exceptionally rich in Polyphenols, like Papa Vince's Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
In order to preserve the Polyphenols that naturally occur in your EVOO, it's best to consume it in its purest and raw form. Simply drizzle your EVOO on your vegetables, cooked pasta, grilled meats or in your salads to preserve all the natural, beneficial goodness found in this liquid gold that we simply call EVOO!
It's a good thing it tastes so good!
If you have any feedback, questions or would like to contact me directly, please email Tabi at info@papavinceeurope.com.