01 The Best Natural Anti-Inflammatory Medicine

Extra virgin olive oil has great anti-inflammatory properties. It is believed that chronic inflammation is among the leading drivers of many diseases such as heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and arthritis. Oleic acid itself, the most prominent fatty acid in olive oil, can reduce inflammatory markers like C-Reactive Protein. But the main anti-inflammatory effects are mediated by the antioxidants and key among them is oleocanthal, which like ibuprofen or aspirin, it is capable of restricting the activity of the enzymes COX-1 and COX-2. This is the basic function of non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents and painkillers. Scientists estimate that the oleocanthal in 3.4 tablespoons (50 ml) of extra virgin olive oil has a similar effect as 10% of the adult dosage of ibuprofen.
Sphera Extra Virgin Olive Oil contains very high amounts of antioxidants, thus it can help fight inflammation!

The Sphera Extra Virgin Olive Oil has a very high amount of phenols and according to the European Union Regulation 432/2012, the daily consumption of 20g of Sphera Extra Virgin Olive Oil protects the blood lipids from oxidative stress.

02 Extra Virgin Olive Oil is good for your Heart

Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the world. An observation study has found that Cretans (Greeks from the island of Crete) had the lowest rates of mortality, heart disease, and cancer in comparison to other parts of the word. The improved health benefits were mainly attributed to the daily consumption of considerable amounts of olive oil. Olive oil is rich in phytosterols, a type of plant substance that is chemically similar to cholesterol but helps maintain heart health because it blocks the absorption of “bad” cholesterol from the blood. Additionally, the antioxidants present in olive oil also prevent the oxidation of the “bad” cholesterol, improving the lining of our blood vessels and, by doing so, decrease the risk of excessive blood clotting. Recent studies have shown that Mediterranean diet, with significant consumption of olive oil (4 tablespoons per day) and nuts (30 grams or 1 ounce per day) is similar, but healthier, to the effect of taking statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs. Accordingly, epidemiological studies have linked this diet with a reduced risk of major cardiovascular diseases by about 25% to 30%.  Cretans consume an average of around 93 grams of olive oil per day! Not only a healthy habit but also a tasty one!

03 Extra Virgin Olive Oil May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk

The prevalence of diabetes has more than tripled over the last three decades, with around 1.2 million people affected worldwide in 2014–15. A healthy diet containing olive oil can help in the prevention and better management of diabetes. Due to its high content in antioxidants, it can help reduce the damage from the oxidative stress caused by high levels of sugar in the blood and consequently protect from diabetes-associated health problems, such as diabetic neuropathy, retinal neuropathy, high blood pressure, and heart disease. A study has shown that healthy people who followed the Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil have a 40% lower risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Also, cooking food with extra virgin olive oil has been shown to improve postprandial insulin response in obese and insulin-resistance women, and it also enhances the nutritional composition of some vegetables as well as the taste.

04 Extra Virgin Olive Oil protects from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible, age‐associated neurodegenerative disorder characterised by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline and the leading cause of dementia, accounting for 44 million cases worldwide. Studies have indicated that the Mediterranean diet, rich in high-quality olive oil is associated with a reduced risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and AD, and a reduced risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to AD. One of the key features of AD is the build-up of so-called beta-amyloid plaques inside the brain cells. Recent studies show that compounds present in olive oil can help remove these plaques.

05 Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Extra virgin olive oil rich in anti-inflammatory components is beneficial for arthritis and other rheumatic disorders such as osteoarthritis. This protective effect is linked to a compound present in high quantities in olive called oleocanthal. Oleocanthal was shown to significantly reduce chronic inflammation as well as acute inflammatory processes (Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2015).