Have you heard of Oleocanthal? Here are the basics about the extraordinary virtues of this olive Oil component.
-- Oleocanthal is an antioxidant discovered purely by chance when an American researcher Gary Beauchamp was invited to participate in an olive oil symposium in Sicily in the 90’s.
-- Oleocanthal is what causes that sting, the peppery sensation in the back of your throat when you swallow olive oil neat. Oleocanthal comes from the purist of olive oil: if it stings a little the olive oil contains little oleocanthal but if it stings a lot, it contains a good deal of oleocanthal.
-- Oleocanthal has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties similar to ibuprofen. Oleocanthal like ibuprofen inhibits production of the two enzymes that cause arthritis. This is good news for people with arthritis when you think that over two million people in the US alone suffer from the disease.
-- Research studies by Professor Amal Kaddoumi on mice show that oleocanthal leads to reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by an accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau proteins in the brain. Her experiments were conducted on mice, but she says “What we see in animals we can see in humans.”
-- These are only two health benefits of Oleocanthal. Researchers keep finding more health benefits every year. They say we should include a daily dose of extra virgin olive oil in our diet every year-- around three tablespoons say the experts.
The International Oleocanthal Society
The discovery of oleocanthal made such a buzz amongst researchers and health professional that they formed a society the International Oleocanthal Society(IOS) comprising of scientists, nutritionists, dieticians and chefs meeting regularly not only for research but also to promote and raise awareness of how oleocanthal can make a difference.
The Society met in May this year. This is what Professor Kaddoumi reported:
The International Oleocanthal Society in Malaga 2017 |
The meeting in Malaga was great and exciting for multiple reasons. First meeting and come to know new people who share similar interest as mine in relation to olive, EVOO and oleocanthal in addition to other phenolic compounds in EVOO. Also, it provided the opportunity to build collaboration with other scientists in this field. What I found really interesting in this meeting is having olive oil.
The authors of 7 Wonders of Olive Oil were delighted to receive a gold
diploma, an award for their work on Olive Oil. Thank you to the International Oleocanthal Society for this recognition.
diploma, an award for their work on Olive Oil. Thank you to the International Oleocanthal Society for this recognition.
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