It is widely accepted that the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world and this has been backed up by a great deal of medical research. What is less well-known, though, is that one of its basic components, extra virgin olive oil, contains natural chemicals which have an anti-inflammatory effect.
This discovery was made by Dr Gary Beauchamp, a biologist at Morell Research Centre in Pennsylvania, USA. He discovered that extra virgin olive oil produced a very slight irritation in the throat, similar to the mildly bitter sensation we experience when swallowing ibuprofen.
Dr Beauchamp had already been researching the effects of that well-known drug and, together with a group of colleagues, he isolated the chemical compound which produced the aftertaste. They named it oleocanthal and found that, like ibuprofen or aspirin, it is capable of restricting the activity of the enzymes COX-1 and COX-2. This is the basic function of non-steroid anti-inflammatories and painkillers. The discovery adds to the list of beneficial properties of extra virgin olive oil, since its anti-inflammatory power can be a vital aid for combating various types of disease. In fact, 50g of extra virgin olive oil has the equivalent effect of a dose of 9mg of ibuprofen. This quantity is approximately 10% of the standard dose of that drug for adults as a painkiller.
Inflammation is an organic response generated by the immune system as the first line of defence against threats to our organism. It can also represent a health risk since it can be the sign of deterioration of vital organs and various diseases.
An excess of body fat and especially obesity can provoke inflammatory processes, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and other chronic diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis and osteoarthritis. In addition, there are certain foodstuffs that can cause inflammation when consumed in sufficient quantities, such as saturated (animal) fats and trans (normally chemically processed) fats.
The anti-inflammatory properties of extra virgin olive oil can take effect both externally, when it comes to skin inflammation, and internally. For this reason, it is recommended to consume a moderate amount of olive oil each day, preferably of extra virgin quality. This will help prevent or reduce chronic inflammation in the bloodstream. What's more, scientists are currently researching the effects of the anti-inflammatory properties of extra virgin olive oil on the formation of amyloid beta plaques which are produced in the brain during the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Important: this information does not constitute medical advice. In case of doubt, consult your doctor.