OLIVE OIL
The Ferranti family are proud to be both farmers of olives and producers of Single Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
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Health
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Nutrition and Health
Extra Virgin Olive Oil brings more than flavour to your diet! Research shows that extra virgin olive oil has numerous properties, which are highly beneficial to our health.
Coronary heart disease
The beneficial health effects of extra virgin olive oil are due to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acid called oleic acid (56-83%). This type of fatty acid helps to lower LDL (low density lipid) cholesterol in the blood and keeps the arteries clear of blockage but does not affect the beneficial cholesterol HDC (high density lipid). Medical researches worldwide are confident that a regular intake of extra virgin olive oil in the diet considerably reduces the chances of coronary disease.
Breast Cancer (Extra virgin olive oil and Herceptin)
Recent discovery by the Northwestern University in Chicago USA claim that a diet rich in extra virgin olive oil seems to cut the risk of breast cancer. Researchers found that the oleic acid from olive oil cut activity levels of a gene cell HER-2/NEU which occurs at high levels in over a fifth of breast cancer patients and is associated with highly aggressive tumours with poor prognoses.
Not only did oleic acid suppress the activity of the gene it also boosted the effectiveness of a breast cancer drug called Herceptin which has helped to prolong the life of many patients. Hospitals in the United Kingdom now produce a fact sheet recommending olive oil intake while taking the drug Herceptin as it increased the effectiveness of the drug by 75%.
Digestive system
Olive oil is extremely kind to the digestive system; it coats the mucus's membranes and stimulates the gall bladder. It also helps to prevent 'bloating' and acts as a gentle laxative. Olive oil also activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones much more naturally than prescribed drugs and consequently lowers the incidence of gall stone formation.
Olive oil could be simply described as the finest 'Lubricant' our digestive system could have.
Other benefits
As research continues it seems that there is not much that olive oil is not much good for. The following is part of a growing list of claims that olive oil helps to suppress:
Ulcers, gastritis, colon cancer, skin cancer, diabetes, and skin aging. Olive oil is also claimed to aid bone growth and stimulate the brain in elderly people. These claims are borne out by the fact that extra virgin olive oil contains vitamins and phenols, which act as antioxidants mopping up free radicals that affect the DNA operate.
Composition of olive oil
| Fatty Acids | 98-99% |
| Phytonutrients: Vitamins antioxidants and volatile substances | 1.2% |
| Saturated fatty acids | 9.22% |
| Monounsaturated fatty acids - Oleic acid | 56.83% |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids - Linoleic acid | 4-20% |
| Linolenic acid | Trace |