early harvest extra virgin olive oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Early Harvest

The bitter the healthier.

Available in 250ml & 500ml packaging.

Produced by cold extraction directly from olives and solely with mechanical means.

Nutritional value per 100ml

  • Energy : 3389 kj/ 825 ckal
  • Fat : 91.6 g
    Of which:
  • Saturated : 12.8 g
  • Mono-unsaturated : 70.5 g
  • Poly-unsaturated: 8.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.0 g
    Of which:
  • Sugar: 0.0 g
  • Protein : 0.0 g
  • Salt : 0.0 g


Properties of early harvest virgin olive oil

 

Olives are a special breed of stone fruits which, when one thinks of it, makes the extra virgin olive oil a fresh juice. But what makes this juice so unique, apart from its unparalleled taste, are the health benefits that its ingredients produce. It is therefore not surprising that virgin olive oil has been used, ever since ancient times, for a variety of treatments – the writings of Hippocrates point out more than 60 medical uses for virgin olive oil.
Nowadays, there is a clearly documented correlation between the health benefits of virgin olive oil and certain illnesses, such as cardiac problems, cancer, pre-myeloid leukaemia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Extra virgin olive oil improves insulin secretion, prevents lipid oxidation and protects our DNA. It mediates changes in gene expression related to metabolism, cellular processes and atherosclerosis. It also helps maintain a healthy body weight, and is rich in antioxidants.

The early harvest olive oil, the extra virgin olive oil that is produced by the olives that are harvested before they achieve full maturation and thus retain their characteristic green colour, has further healing properties.

Specifically:

  • The early harvest virgin olive oil, compared to the regular virgin olive oil, contains an up to 5 times higher concentration in two substances which are important for their pharmaceutical benefits: oleosin, a powerful antioxidant, and oleocanthal, which has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Indeed, these two substances cannot be found in any other plant food, and are responsible for the mildly bitter aftertaste of the early harvest virgin olive oil.
  • Early harvest virgin olive oil also helps to improve endothelial function. The endothelium is an organ of the body that secretes substances that improve blood flow, and consequently affect blood pressure and prevent thrombosis, thus maintaining a healthy heart function.
  • The taste benefits of the early harvest virgin olive oil are indisputable. Due to its very low acidity (usually up to 0.5 degrees) it has a rich, fruity flavour, which stands out and compliments other dishes of the Mediterranean diet, such as salads and greens, bread, and feta.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Available in 250ml & 500ml packaging.

Produced by cold extraction directly from olives and solely with mechanical means.

Nutritional value per 100ml

  • Energy : 3389 kj/ 825 ckal
  • Fat : 91.6 g
    Of which:
  • Saturated : 12.8 g
  • Mono-unsaturated : 70.5 g
  • Poly-unsaturated: 8.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0.0 g
    Of which:
  • Sugar: 0.0 g
  • Protein : 0.0 g
  • Salt : 0.0 g

 

Properties of extra virgin olive oil

 

Extra virgin olive oil is produced solely by cold extraction and is of the highest quality, as it is characterized by:

  1. its premium dietary quality
  2. its signature taste with the silk-like texture and unique aroma

 

In ancient times, Homer named olive oil the ‘Liquid Gold’, while Hippocrates, the father of medicine, regarded it as a crucial ingredient for a healthy life.

Thus, extra virgin olive oil is nowadays an indispensable ingredient not only of the famous Mediterranean diet, but also of holistic therapies, due to the fact that it is one of the few natural foods with actual holistic health benefits, affecting the body, the mind, and the soul.

 

Health benefits for the human body

The health benefits for our body can be divided into two categories: external and internal ones.

Internal benefits

Extra virgin olive oil:

  • Contains excellent mono-unsaturated fats that reduce cholesterol and improve the blood circulation, thus strengthening our heart
  • Contains substantial amounts of vitamin Omega 3, which, combined with the mono-unsaturated fats, reduce blood pressure. It is important to know that our body does not produce any Omega 3, thus, it is crucial for us to acquire this vitamin through our food
  • Contains strong anti-oxidants, such as vitamin E, carotenoids and phenols, such as the unique oleocanthal. These substances help cleanse our blood of unwanted elements (dead roots), enhancing the function of our blood vessels, thus shielding the body even against certain types of cancer
  • strengthens bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

 

External benefits

Regarding the benefits for our body, extra virgin olive oil helps to maintain healthy skin. Because it contains antioxidants, vitamins and antibacterial substances, the oil affects our skin’s ageing, reduces the risk of skin diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema, improves the reconstruction of healthy skin tissue, thus rejuvenating our skin, and protects our hair and nails.

 

Modern science praises the consumption of extra virgin olive oil

Concluding with the holistic effects of extra virgin olive oil, it is worth noting the important health benefits it offers for our mind and our mental wellbeing, as pointed out by the international scientific community. It has thus been proven (see here ) by top ranking universities that consuming extra virgin olive oil has a positive impact on our mental and psychological wellbeing. On the one hand, it strengthens our nervous system, improving our memory and reducing the risk of a stroke, while on the other hand it also lowers the probability for the appearance of depression or other mental disorders.
Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that the extra virgin olive oil can only truly help us when it is consumed as part of a complete and balanced diet. As the main ingredient of the Mediterranean diet which is internationally recognized for its health benefits, it constitutes an unparalleled food item with tremendous benefits for our health and general wellbeing.