Why is it so important to choose a quality extra virgin olive oil?

It's not just a matter of taste, aroma and flavor, it's also and above all a matter of health.

We often hear talk of "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol", but what exactly are they and what does the choice of a good Extra Virgin Olive Oil have to do with all this?

In reality, Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a lot to do with it…
Among the properties of extra virgin olive oil, in fact, there is certainly that of protecting our arteries by regulating blood cholesterol levels , one of the most important factors related to cardiovascular risk.

What is “bad cholesterol” or LDL?
Cholesterol is a fat present in the blood which is largely produced by the body, in physiological quantities, it is essential for the construction of healthy cells. Too high values ​​of "bad cholesterol" called LDL, are one of the main causes of heart attacks and strokes. In fact, cholesterol leads to the generation of atherosclerotic plaques which can lead to the narrowing of veins and ethereal.

And the good one or HDL?
The "good cholesterol" plays a protective role in against important problems such as: atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack. The "high-density lipoproteins" of which it is composed have the function of transporting bad cholesterol to the organs that use or eliminate it. In practice, they take cholesterol from the peripheral organs of the body, including the arteries, to bring it back to the liver, which will then eliminate it in the bile, according to a process called reverse transport of cholesterol.

And in all this l What does Extra Virgin Olive Oil have to do with it?
Thanks to its monounsaturated fatty acids, extra virgin olive oil allows a reduction in LDL cholesterol (the bad one) and an increase in the good one.
A recent study published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association has shown that the Mediterranean diet enriched with extra virgin olive oil improves key functions of HDL, in particular:

•  the reverse transport of cholesterol. That is, the process by which HDL removes plaque in the arteries and transports it to the liver.
• antioxidant protection. That is, the ability of HDL to counteract the oxidation of LDL, which has been found to trigger the formation of plaque in the arteries.
• the vasodilator capacity. It relaxes blood vessels, keeps them open and allows blood to flow.

Therefore, when choosing extra virgin olive oil, do it with your heart!

Protect your heart's health by choosing the Certified Quality oils from our Selection