Health Hotline Magazine | February 2025

FO THE LOVE OF O GANICS: YOUR O GANIC PRODUCE HEADQUA TE S ® By Morgaine Lee OLIVE OIL

Peace of Mind and Heart with Every (Organic) Drizzle Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a golden ally for brain and heart health. Studies have consistently shown EVOO’s positive impact on cognitive function, memory, and its ability to protect against diseases such as dementia. It’s packed with antioxidants like polyphenols that calm inflammation and protect against oxidative stress, both of which are detrimental to brain and heart health. The polyphenols in EVOO have also consistently been found to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol as well as reduce the number of small particle LDL (oxidized LDL and high numbers of small-particle LDL are both correlated with the development of atherosclerosis). The key? The oil needs to be high in polyphenols. Fun fact: Organic olive oils have significantly higher concentrations of the polyphenols that support heart and brain health, compared to their conventionally grown counterparts. So when you choose organic, you’re not just getting a product with a better ecological footprint—you’re also benefiting from a more nutrient-dense oil. There is peace of mind in every drizzle knowing organic EVOO has got your back (and brain and heart, too!). Organic Processing Matters When we think about organic, we often imagine vibrant and biodiverse farms, but this is just the beginning—organic standards are applied every step of the way, from farm to table, including processing. Crops grown with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers can absorb those chemicals in their fruit, which then become concentrated when processed into an oil, particularly fat-soluble pesticides. Additionally, many conventional olive oils are extracted with chemical solvents such as hexane… yikes! Organic olive oil, however, is made by mechanical processing only—slowly grinding the fruits and keeping them at a low temperature before spinning the mixture to separate the pulp from the oil. Organic olive oil is worth prioritizing to make every meal a healthier one, free of chemical solvents and grown without synthetic pesticides! A Resilient Ally in the Face of Climate Change But there’s more than just our health on the line—organic olives are a win for Mother Nature too! Organic olive farming focuses on maintaining healthy soils and ecosystems over the long term, which is beneficial for the environment and future generations. Olive trees have an average lifespan of 500 years, with some living more than 1,500 years—no wonder they are a symbol of longevity! These long-living trees play an important role in carbon sequestration and can store carbon for hundreds of years. An olive grove roughly the size of two and a half football fields can capture as much as 4.5 tons of CO2 per year. With the estimated amount of olive trees world wide, that’s about 47 million tons of CO2 removed from the atmosphere each year. And not only is the soil in For thousands of years, olives and olive oil have been woven into the fabric of societal life. The cultural legacy of olives is timeless, symbolizing peace, wisdom, and longevity. These small fruits and the rich oil they produce are treasured for their nourishing health bene ts and decadent avour. But olives are more than just a tasty snack. Ancient Egyptians used olive oil as a beauty treatment and the Romans relied on it for nutrition and preserving food. In ancient Greece, olive oil was considered a gift from the gods, and ancient Olympians were crowned with wreaths made of olive branches to symbolize victory. Today, olives and their golden-green oil still have a seat at the table in Mediterranean diets, connecting us to centuries of tradition and good health.

olive groves a rich carbon sink, with organic farming methods, it also fosters an abundance of microbial life that support this CO2 sequestering mission, making soil more nutrient rich and better able to retain water during drought periods. Choosing organic olive oil supports a resilient, carbon rich, and lively soil—a healthier choice for you, the earth, and all beings big and small who delight in olive groves and the fruits they grow.

For references, please visit: naturalgrocers.com/issue-91

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