Recently, the New York Times Magazine wrote that the heart-friendly extra virgin olive oil was a potential reason why inhabitants of the Greek Island Ikaria just “forget to die.” This oil, a substantial part of the Mediterranean diet, is a traditional fat that has been a dietary staple for some of the world’s healthiest populations. Studies showed that the fatty acids and antioxidants in the extra virgin olive oil have powerful health benefits, such as greatly reduced risk of heart disease.
What is extra virgin olive oil and how is it made?
Extra virgin olive oil is the oil got the first time olives (the fruits of the olive tree) are pressed. The process is incredibly simple: you just press the olives and the oil comes out!