What is olive oil?

Meaning and Characteristics of Olive Oil

Despite a campaign of absolute misinformation, it can certainly be stated that oil obtained from the pressing of olives is undoubtedly the best type of dietary fat. Do you know what extra virgin oil means? For many peoples’ dietary traditions, history, social habits, and lifestyle, oil is one of the fundamental components of the Mediterranean diet, which can now be considered a true model of life that everyone aspires to, as it is synonymous with health, beauty, and quality: in a word, well-being.
The Mediterranean diet is indeed able to prevent diseases typical of industrialized societies, such as obesity, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, and many cardiovascular diseases. Even Americans, who are not major producers of olive oil, have recognized its high nutritional and therapeutic value: in 1977 Professor Angel Kelsen (University of Minnesota) acknowledged that linoleic acid found in olive oil has a high degree of effectiveness in preventing arteriosclerosis and heart attacks.
Olive oil has now become such a delicacy that, thanks to its originality and economic importance, it can be defined as the yellow gold of many populations, especially those of the Mediterranean basin.

According to recent studies, deaths from cardiovascular diseases in Mediterranean basin countries, where olive oil is widely used, are significantly lower than those occurring in Northern European countries, where animal fats are consumed to a greater extent. Given this, it is clear why the consumption of olive oil, especially that with excellent characteristics (extra virgin), has increased considerably in recent years.
Flavor, genuineness, and health reasons seem to prevail in consumer choices.
Nonetheless, despite the increased consumption, olive oil still represents only 3% of world vegetable fat consumption.

Here are some tips on why to consume extra virgin olive oil and why to buy it directly from the mill!