Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), also called the “Elixir of the youth and health” by the Ancient Greeks, is a cornerstone in the Mediterranean diet, which has been recognized as one of the healthiest and most sustainable dietary pattern and lifestyle. In this chapter, a brief overview of the major and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Petkoska, Anka Trajkovska, Trajkovska-Broach, Anita
Format: Book Chapter
Language:English
Published: IntechOpen 2021
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Online Access:https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/75509
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Summary:Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), also called the “Elixir of the youth and health” by the Ancient Greeks, is a cornerstone in the Mediterranean diet, which has been recognized as one of the healthiest and most sustainable dietary pattern and lifestyle. In this chapter, a brief overview of the major and minor components of EVOO is given followed by a review of their health benefits. In particular, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and cardiovascular protective effects of EVOO are emphasized. At the end of this chapter, the reader would benefit by realizing that EVOO, as a functional food, proves the Hippocrates’s quote “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”.
ISBN:978-1-83968-414-2
DOI:10.5772/intechopen.96570