We have two high polyphenol olive oils to choose from:
- 1. Hygeia 350 - a very early harvest extra virgin cold pressed oil, with mostly green olives picked in October, and a polyphenol level of 350mg/l, a very low acidity of 0.22%. This is a lighter oil than the November oil (Hygeia 420) with a smoother crisp taste.
AND
- 2. Hygeia 420 - an early harvest virgin cold pressed oil where the mostly black olives are picked in November; this oil has a higher level of total polyphenols, but is a heavier oil with a riper fuller taste than the Hygeia 350.
Both oils are made from the robust Koroneiki olive, hand picked and pressed the same day. BOTH OILS FULFIL THE EU CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY OLIVE OIL, BUT THE HYGEIA 420 MAY BE PREFERABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH JOINT PROBLEMS AND OTHER INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS, ALTHOUGH IT IS A HEAVIER RICHER OIL.
POLYPHENOLS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS NON STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MODERATE JOINT PAIN.
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION DISCUSSES OLIVE OIL POLYPHENOLS
PLEASE NOTE THAT AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH POLYPHENOLS, our HYGEIA OILS HAVE A BITTER AND PEPPERY TASTE - THIS IS EXPECTED FOR GOOD QUALITY OLIVE OIL AND INDICATES HIGH POLYPHENOL LEVELS. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO INTERESTING THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO DETECT BITTERNESS AND PEPPERINESS TO THE SAME EXTENT! SOME PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE SENSITIVE TO THESE ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES.
To find out more about polyphenols in olive oil read our blog
