by Basil Koutalianos
A deep dive into olive oil’s composition, the cold-press process and the benefits of a quality product.
Essential fatty acid is another one of the benefits of Golden Olive Eleni® organic extra virgin olive oil. In Greece, the fresh new oil is considered medicine, and for very good reason. It benefits the body, by lubricating the joints, benefits the heart, bones, brain tissue and beautiful skin.
Undoubtedly the best product of the Mediterranean is olive oil. Due to its well balanced composition, it benefits the human body’s function and is the cornerstone of the healthiest diet. Animal fats and seed oils (corn oil, sunflower oil, soya, cottonseed oil, canola, flax seed) have been scientifically proved to be self oxidizing at room temperatures and they loose their natural properties under high temperatures. On the contrary, Olive oil remains unaltered even in high temperatures (up to 410°F degrees) due to its anti oxidizing substances.
The presence of natural antioxidants in the non-saponified fraction of olive oil is the explanation in its miraculous resistance to oxidation in high temperatures. This is another reason why olive oil is highly recommended for frying food, for one of the most usual cooking processes in homes, restaurants and industrial food process.
Quality olive oil is stable up to 410°F. Cooking with olive oil is the principle manner in which the Greek cuisine is based on. Due to its resistance olive oil is the most suitable oil for cooking and frying, as it can be used even up to 10 times in a row to fry meat or sardines without losing its digestible substances. Olive oil, due to its composition, remains on the surface of foods without penetrating them, while other fats penetrate the foods and alter their nutritional value. Their action is particularly toxic, affecting the stomach, the liver, the heart and blood circulation, the kidneys and furthermore they damage the nutritional value of the food itself.
Did you know? Cold-pressed olive oil is a rare phenomenon in recent years. Golden Olive Eleni® organic extra virgin olive oil made at less than 28°C. This is a fact and the proof is in its high organoleptic qualities, which are its aroma , taste and colour. The commercial olive oil mills, during harvest time, do not operate under 47°C and during centrifugation, temperatures rise over 50°C. High temperatures increase the amount of olive oil that can be extracted during this process! Unfortunately, cold-pressed regulations (low temperatures) do not exist. Which means heated olive oil during pressing can still be labeled cold-pressed!!
Adulteration: With deodorized hazelnut oil this is the latest in the illegal trade in mixing olive oil with seed oils. Hazelnut oil is difficult to trace, even in high quantities , due to certain similarities with olive oil fatty acids. But the real big news are about a giant North American company planning to produce from genetically engineered soya beans, an oil that will have the aroma and the colour of the Cretan (Crete-Greece) olive oil.
Beauty secrets: Natures finest moisturizer, is the fresh Golden Olive Eleni® organic extra virgin olive oil. It is naturally high in vitamin E and phytonutrients that are beneficial for health and help protect the body from disease. Use it to moisturize your skin at night and during the day under your makeup. It is especially gentle when removing mascara, and also benefits the delicate skin around the eyes. Moisturizing your skin begins with taking extra virgin olive oil by the tablespoon full every day, we moisturize from the inside out to remedy dry skin.