Olive oil polyphenols as medicine?
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." This famous saying is attributed to Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine. Although the exact words were likely formulated later, they perfectly reflect his vision: food is the foundation of health. In Crete, where olive oil has been central to daily life for thousands of years, this idea takes on special significance.
What are olive oil polyphenols?
Polyphenols belong to the group of antioxidants found in products like citrus fruits, broccoli, cocoa, and therefore also olives and olive oil. The more polyphenols are present in the oil, the healthier it is. There is even a proven positive effect on health from consuming these polyphenols. To support these exceptionally healthy oils, the EU has issued a Health Claim under Regulation 432/2012, which may only be used if there is at least 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol in 20 grams of olive oil.
Why are olive oil polyphenols important for health?
Polyphenols help the body and achieve good results in, among other things:
- Lowering bad cholesterol levels
- Reducing the risk of type II diabetes
- Lowering blood pressure
- Has an anti-inflammatory effect
- Slowing down the negative effects of Alzheimer's by 30-40%
- Preventing the aging of the body, including the skin
Consuming this type of olive oil polyphenols definitely contributes to a healthier body. It makes your body more resilient to external pollutants (free radicals) that can lead to some of the common diseases and ailments mentioned above. So, make sure you consume at least 20 grams, or 2-3 tablespoons, raw daily. Eat it by the spoonful or use it as a topping on a salad or other dish.
For several years now, Cretanthos has been the proud owner of this “Health claim” for its Cretanthos Early Harvest Extra Virgin organic olive oil.
This means you'll have an excellent olive oil for your daily health ritual. Besides these health benefits, it adds an extra dimension of flavor to your dishes.
Polyphenols olive oil Pamako
Now, with Pamako, we have an even bigger winner, which completely outperforms most olive oils rich in polyphenols. The 2025 harvest of Pamako polyphenol olive oil has achieved High Phenolic Olive Oil Certification with an officially measured value of 2081 mg/kg. This is a whopping 8x higher than the minimum amount of 250 mg/kg of olive oil polyphenols for EU Health Claim 432/2012. However, thanks to the Tsounati variety, this olive oil is remarkably mild and delicious. Available now in our webshop.
