We’ve mentioned the word ‘antioxidants’ before. However, we’ve noticed—both ourselves and those around us—that it’s still a bit of a vague concept. That’s why we’re going to clearly explain what antioxidants are and how richly they are present in (our) olive oil.
What are antioxidants and what do they do?
Let’s first talk about what antioxidants do in our body. Our body consists (among other things) of tissue and DNA. There’s a major threat to your cells and tissues: free radicals. These are aggressive molecules that can cause damage in certain situations. This is called oxidative stress. Over time, this may lead to cancer and cardiovascular disease. Luckily, a balanced intake of antioxidants helps neutralize these free radicals. Hence the name antioxidant (anti-oxidation)!
Which substances act as antioxidants?
Great question! Here’s your answer: substances like vitamin C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, and zinc are known as antioxidants. Don’t feel like looking up which foods contain them? No worries, we’ve done it for you. Check out this overview from Healthline and this Mayo Clinic guide:
- Vegetables – Raw ginger, cooked broccoli, red lettuce, asparagus, avocado, raw red beets, raw red onions, green lettuce, raw broccoli, raw onions, orange peppers, raw eggplant, red peppers, raw cauliflower, raw carrots, cooked cauliflower, green peppers, fresh tomato, raw celery, iceberg lettuce, raw baby carrots, pineapple, cooked carrots, cooked eggplant, cucumber
- Fruit – Elderberries, (dried) apples, blueberries, dried prunes, black currants, raspberries, raw cranberries, cherries, gooseberries, pears, mandarins, navel oranges, grapefruit, lemon juice, kiwi, apricots, mango, banana
- Herbs – Clove, cinnamon, oregano powder, turmeric (curcuma), dried basil, ground black pepper, fresh thyme, chili powder, paprika powder, fresh mint, fresh oregano, garlic powder, raw garlic, raw coriander, fresh basil
- Other foods – Dried agave, unsweetened cocoa powder, dark chocolate, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, olive oil, cooked artichoke, pistachios, raw kidney beans, black beans, lentils, almonds, dates, red wine, figs, raw peanuts, raisins, rye bread, cashews, macadamia nuts, multigrain bread, Brazil nuts, white wine, lima beans, and various turmeric teas
- Supplements? – Here’s an essential point: do not take antioxidant supplements unnecessarily. Studies show that an excess of antioxidants from supplements can disrupt your body’s balance and lead to negative health effects. As long as your diet is varied and includes antioxidant-rich foods like those above, you don’t need supplements at all!
Antioxidants and olive oil – what’s the deal?
Olive oil is considered an antioxidant-rich food because it’s high in vitamin E. Just make sure you choose the extra virgin kind, like Gkazas Olive Oil! Interestingly, fried foods also contain plenty of antioxidants—especially when you fry in olive oil. So yes, heating olive oil is not only safe, it can be beneficial. We explain all of it in more detail in this article. Want to go straight to the frying pan? No problem—read more about frying with olive oil here.
In short: if your diet is varied (think of the five food groups), you’ve got nothing to worry about. And extra virgin olive oil is an essential part of that. So it’s always a good idea to keep a tin of olive oil or a bottle of olive oil—extra virgin, of course—at home! 😉
