Reasons to Use More Olive Oil

It’s the beginning of a new year and if you’re anywhere near the internet, you’re likely seeing an abundance of posts about New Year’s resolutions and how everyone plans to make lifestyle changes in 2022.

While we’re not big on the “quick results, lose weight” type of mantra, there is a lot to be said about making long-term, positive changes that will have a lasting impact on both physical and mental health. Whether that be simplifying, minimizing, or taking steps to a healthier diet.

Whatever your personal goals are we wish you a year full of success, and if diet is at the top of your list, then olive oil and incorporating more of it can be a really easy, and delicious way, to start.

The health benefits of olive oil are well-documented and we’ve hit on many of them in previous blogs, but we’ve compiled a few of our top reasons to use more extra virgin olive oil into this article to help inspire you this year.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

1. It’s Full of Healthy Fats

Many diets will tell you that fat is bad, but that’s not the whole truth. It really depends on what kinds of fat you’re eating. Olive oil is one of the healthiest fats you could use since it is predominantly made up of a healthy monounsaturated fat known as oleic acid.

Studies have shown that oleic acid can help fight inflammation in the body which is one of the leading contributors to a range of health problems.

2. Packed with Antioxidants

Nutrition labels don’t really highlight these, but olive oil is packed full of antioxidants that help keep the body healthy. Vitamins like E and K, which extra virgin olive oil contains a fair amount of, are known to help prevent oxidation as well as fight inflammation which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.

3. Power of Polyphenols

Polyphenols commonly fall under the same umbrella as antioxidants due to their beneficial activity in the body. Polyphenols are powerful fighters against free radicals and oxidation, both of which affect how quickly you age as well as increase your risk of developing different diseases.

Unlike the other beneficial compounds that we talked about above, polyphenols are only found in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) due to the minimal processing done to extract the oil. Because EVOO is processed the least out of all the different types of oils, it’s able to retain nearly all of the beneficial properties.

This is why extra virgin olive oil is considered the highest quality olive oil you can buy, and why it fetches a higher price tag than other oils found on store shelves.

How to Use More Olive Oil

If we’ve convinced you that olive oil is a smart choice for you in 2022 then you’re likely going to be wondering how exactly you can do this. Well lucky for you, olive oil is an extremely versatile oil.

High quality olive oil has an extremely high smoke point which means that it can be used for just about any dish you could dream of. Here are a few great ways to use your olive oil every day.

1. Marinade – marinate your meat and/or vegetables ahead of time and give them plenty of time to soak up the flavor of the olive oil your using. Even one of our classic ultra-premium olive oils packs a great flavor punch for your dish. Though don’t be afraid to try out our full lineup of flavored olive oils as well.

2. Grill it – either while cooking or after, drizzle your food with olive oil to flavor the meat while it’s cooking. This ensures you get a great sear on the food and also great flavor.

3. Baking – olive oil is a great substitute for butter, and as a healthier fat it’s an easy swap to make and will still ensure great flavor in the dish. For more information on baking with olive oil and a conversion chart check out our blog here – https://dolivotastingbar.com/baking-with-olive-oil/

For specific recipes to help inspire your olive oil adventures this year check out our recipe page – https://dolivotastingbar.com/recipe/