Got ya. Yeah, I know what you were thinking. Now that I have your attention let's talk about the only virgin I have some real experience with--olive oil!
Most of you are probably completely unaware of the Superfood that is THE extra virgin olive oil. This magical serum is the key to all your happiness- mind, body and soul! Seriously, this stuff is so good I take two tablespoons every morning along with my vitamins. You may be calling me crazy right now but allow me to explain.
First, let's have a taste test. Grab a bottle of extra virgin olive oil-not to be confused with regular olive oil- and slurp down a tablespoon. Notice anything post slurp? You may have felt a tingly, spicy feeling in the back of your throat or maybe even coughed afterward. Bear with me, this is good news!
That weird feeling in your throat is what I like to call the Big O otherwise known as oleocanthal. What the what? Here's a quick break down. Oleocanthal = a type of Phenol = plant compounds that stimulate your body's' repair mechanisms. And here's the kicker- Big O has anti-inflammatory effects as powerful as a small dose of ibuprofen. So to put it simply, extra virgin olive oil is your modern day medicine minus all the potential side effects. Wow!
Anything anti-inflammatory should be your best friend. As you probably already know, inflammation is the devils work and can bring on a ton of shit like pain, brain fog, even depression. If I haven't convinced you that this is truly a magical serum, the Big O has also proven to clear the brain of all the nasty junk like amyloid plaque which is a sticky protein that promotes Alzheimer's disease. Yikes! Studies have also shown that extra virgin olive oil itself can improve cognitive function (your brain, folks) and lower blood pressure. If you're wondering if these studies are valid, I can tell you that it's not only had positive effects on me but also my dad, who's blood pressure has recently been in the danger zone. He hated that he had to take medication and started adding 4 cups (about a liter) of extra virgin olive oil to his smoothies every morning. His blood pressure is damn near perfect now, without medication.
But wait, there's more! Extra virgin olive oil can also block an enzyme found in fatty tissue called fatty acid synthase which converts carbs into fat. Do I have your attention yet? Great, because I'm not done!
Extra virgin olive oil is also a source of monounsaturated fat which is the healthy fat. Yes, yes, not all fat is bad. That long M word helps to keep your blood vessels and liver healthy and promotes weight loss. Oh, I've definitely got your attention now!
Remember I said I take two tablespoons a day. This gives me a good dose of vitamin E which is an antioxidant that protects all the good fat in your body. And you want to know what the fattiest, juiciest, most important part of your body is? YOUR BRAIN. Think of olive oil as the helmet protecting your brain from all the wear and tear life throws at you aka aging.
Before you go rushing to Wally World to pick up this bottle of magic, it's important that you know how to pick out a good oil. First, it needs to be EXTRA VIRGIN. The regular stuff often has added chemicals and won't have the same positive effects.
With that being said, not all extra virgin olive oils are created equal. Unfortunately, the best way you can determine if an extra virgin oil is right for you is to taste it. Please don't go walking down isles tasting olive oils and putting them back on the shelf. I'm not bailing anyone out of jail. I do realize olive oil is not cheap, so spend the next few months buying a different brand each time you grocery shop. Here's what you're looking for:
It should always taste grassy. The grassier, the better. If you feel like you're chugging grease, you've been bamboozled.
Remember the Big O. Oleocanthal is what gives olive oil it's strong, peppery taste. So if you're coughing, it's a keeper! If you don't cough, that's okay too- some people are more tolerant than others. My nona and I had a taste test once and she coughed up her left lung while I was fine.
Read your labels. Often times you will see extra virgin olive oil on the bottle but will find that it's been combined with canola oil or something you cannot pronounce. Hide that bottle so others don't buy it. It's doing way more harm than good.
Always purchase in a glass bottle. The chemicals in plastic have so many harmful long term side effects, it's worth it to spend a little more for clean oil.
Although I like to drink it straight, I understand many of you may not be about that life. An easy way to get a healthy dose each day is to add it to your smoothies or as a food topping. This is not the same as cooking with it. In fact, frying with olive oil will kill some of the nutrients that are so good for you. I like to use it when I make my salad dressings, or will add it to my eggs in the morning or anything I bake like fish and chicken. Yum!
At last, I rest my case. Now go and buy that bottle. Happy tasting!
Candidly chugging olive oil forever,
Parker
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