olive oil- benefits and how to buy.

Olive oil instead of aspirin?

Last Updated Aug 2007

A recent article in Nature (Aug. 31, 2005,) has indicated that extra-virgin olive oil has anti-inflammatory properties. More importantly it seems to work as other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do by inhibiting the COX enzymes. The active ingredient appears to be a compound known as oleocanthal (Greek for olive stinging aldehyde) because it provides a peppery taste at the back of the mouth. That's the good news. The bad news is it takes about 3 tablespoons to provide the amount of COX inhibition as 10 per cent of a standard dose of ibuprofen. Nonetheless, this is why extra-virgin oil is a key component of the anti-inflammatory Zone Diet. How can you tell if your olive oil has these anti- inflammatory properties? Take a teaspoon of olive oil and put it in your mouth. It should have a very rich butter-like taste. Then flip it to the back of your mouth where you get a strong pepper-like taste. Unfortunately, most of the good olive oil that has these properties never leaves Italy. That is unless you have friends, as I do, who are able to identify select organic olive oil producers that make such an oil. Sold by Zone Labs, it enables you to get great taste with equally great anti-inflammatory benefits.

 

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