The Antioxidant Properties of Olive Oil

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The Antioxidant Properties of Olive Oil

JoAnn Guest

Jan 12, 2004 18:23 PST

 

 

 

What are antioxidants and oxidative stress?

Oxidation is a process that occurs not only when oil is being

produced, but also inside our own bodies.

 

Reactions occur continually inside the body, giving rise to the

formation of free radicals (peroxidants).

 

As a rule, free radicals are less likely to cause severe damage

thanks to the protection provided by antioxidants, which help to

keep a balance up to a point. If the balance is spoiled,

however, " oxidative stress "

occurs, leading to deterioration of normal cell functions and even

cell death.

 

Oxidation is a complex, fundamental phenomenon in the process of

cell ageing.

 

Lipid or fat peroxidation tends to be proportional to the number

of double bonds in a compound, explaining why the " oleic " acid in

Olive Oil shows little 'susceptibility' to oxidation.

 

Cell membranes contain a large 'amount' of fat and cholesterol and

their composition depends on 'diet'.

 

When the diet contains a lot of extra-virgin olive oil, the cells

are more 'resistant' to oxidation, they do not deteriorate as much

and ageing is much slower.

 

 

Approximately 1.5% of olive oil is made up of the 'unsaponifiable'

fraction, which contains antioxidants.

Virgin olive oil contains the largest quantities of these substances

and other minor components.

 

Antioxidants in olive oil:

 

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), carotenoids and phenolic compounds

(simple phenols such as hydroxytyrosol and complex phenols such as

oleuropein) are all antioxidants whose activity has been

demonstrated in vitro and

recently in vivo, revealing further advantages in the prevention of

certain diseases and also of ageing.

 

The phenolic content of olive oils varies according to the climatic

conditions in the producing area, when the olives are harvested and

how ripe they are when picked.

 

Oil production and storage methods also have an influence. Phenols

have countless biological properties, for instance hydroxytyrosol

inhibits platelet aggregation and it is anti-inflammatory and

oleuropein encourages the formation of nitric acid,

which is a powerful 'vasodilator' (blood vessel relaxer) and exerts

a strong anti-bacterial effect.

 

Oxidised LDLs are known to be 'atherogenic', which is where olive

oil steps in because it has a beneficial, protective effect

against " LDL "

(bad cholesterol) oxidation.

 

Moreover, it also 'strengthens' other cells in the body against the

toxic effects of oxidants.

 

The high " antioxidant " content of the Mediterranean diet appears to

contribute significantly to its effect on longevity.

Antioxidants are also found in fresh fruit and vegetables.

 

Because it is the only oil to be obtained from a fruit,

olive oil retains a host of substances, antioxidants and vitamins

that give it added nutritional value.

 

The explanation behind this high content of antioxidants is probably

that because the olive is a fruit that is exposed to the air,

it has to defend itself from oxygen.

It therefore synthesises a larger amount of antioxidants, which pass

through to the oil.

 

Extra Virgin olive oil, i.e. olive oil that has not been refined or

industrially treated, is particularly rich in these substances and

it

has a strong antioxidant effect, protecting against damage from free

radicals (scavenger activity) and against the formation of cancer.

 

http://www.internationaloliveoil.org/oliveworld_mediet_02.asp

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Post subject: Cancer-Preventive Properties of Olive Oil

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Extra virgin Olive oil appears to contain special cancer-fighting

properties.

A 2002 study by Italian researchers showed that women who consumed

the most olive oil had the lowest risk of ovarian cancer.

 

In another Italian study, published the same year, scientists

discovered that 'hydroxytyrosol',

a substance that abounds in olive oil, slows the 'proliferation' of

leukemia and colon cancer cells.

 

It also causes damaged cells to self-destruct, which could prevent

tumors from growing.

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

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