Notes on olive oil & taste
A growing body of clinical research is examining how Mediterranean diet patterns — with extra virgin olive oil at their center — may be associated with mood and cognitive well-being. From polyphenols and oleic acid to the gut-brain axis, here is where the science currently stands.
From oleic acid's reported role in osteoblast differentiation to calcitriol absorption and polyphenol activity, a growing body of cell and animal research links extra virgin olive oil to bone metabolism — though the clinical picture is still forming.
The sharp bitterness and throat-catching sting in a great extra virgin olive oil are not defects — they are the fingerprint of two polyphenol compounds, oleocanthal and oleacein, binding to distinct receptors in your mouth and throat.
Extra virgin olive oil sits comfortably within low-FODMAP guidelines, yet fat's effect on gut sensitivity is more nuanced than a simple approved/not-approved label. Here is what the current research says.
Studies in sports nutrition are examining whether the polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil are associated with lower oxidative-stress markers after intense exercise. Here is a summary of where the research currently stands.
A spoonful on an empty stomach has long been said to ease constipation. Here is how far the clinical research actually goes — and where the folk wisdom ends.
From a sub-1% acidity Spanish single-estate to entry-level Korean-imported blends, six widely available extra virgin olive oils are compared on the facts that actually matter at the shelf.
The world's two leading EVOO competitions honor hundreds of brands each year, yet Gold and Best in Class medals cluster around a surprisingly small circle of estates. A look at the 2024 results reveals which producers are setting the global standard.
Dietary fat is drawing fresh attention in gout management. This guide reviews the published evidence on how olive oil relates to purine metabolism and uric acid levels.
Two bottles labeled 'extra virgin' can sit side by side at very different prices — and both can be the right choice, depending on how fast you cook through them. Here is how to read the signals that matter in the budget tier.
Not all single-estate Spanish olive oils occupy the same tier. From Jaén and Granada to the Tabernas Desert and Extremadura, this guide maps the Spanish houses that international competition judges and critic guides return to year after year.
Three certification marks — the EU Euro-leaf, USDA Organic, and Demeter — divide the organic EVOO shelf into meaningfully different tiers. Understanding what each one actually requires makes it far easier to judge whether the premium is worth paying.