Every day our body is constantly subjected to environmental factors such as pollution, smoke, improper diet, sunlight, etc. All conditions capable of producing oxygen free radicals.
Our body is able to defend itself from them, but in certain situations, due to the environment in which we live or our lifestyle, we produce excessive amounts putting our bodies a state of “oxidative stress”. Oxidative stress is considered today to be an important factor in many of the chronic diseases that afflict humanity such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
To defend ourselves from oxygen free radicals we need a continuous supply of antioxidant molecules, considered the “anti-rust paints” of the body. Antioxidants are present in fruits and vegetables with distinct coloration: yellows, greens, reds, purples and so on.
Important antioxidant vitamins are vitamin A and vitamin E, in which EVO oil is particularly rich. To protect of the high concentrations in EVO oil of vitamin A, vitamin E and polyphenols, is packaged in dark glass bottles. Instead seed oils, which during processing are stripped of these important protective elements, must be packaged in metal cans to protect from the oxidizing action of light.
The concentration of antioxidants and polyphenols are highest in young fresh oil, recently produced, when the taste is still holds an herbaceous scent. Unfortunately, unlike red wine, which with time can also improve, EVO oil with the passage of time loses its antioxidant potential. After one year most of its polyphenol properties are degraded.
It is for this reason that the olives used to produce OlioCru are harvested about 15 days before full maturation in order to obtain the maximum concentration of polyphenols. In particular it is in stoned oil that the maximum sensation of herbaceous taste, fruity notes, and also the spicy, bitter, tingling sensation in the throat can be found.
The polyphenol responsible for the tingling sensation in the throat is oleocanthal, a substance containing a powerful anti- inflammatory action, almost comparable to the effects of painkillers.
Michele Pizzinini