Olive oil: How to unlock health benefits | Prof. Tim Spector & Elizabeth Berger

Olive oil could transform your health. It regulates blood sugar, helps with weight management and prevents long-term disease. That is if it's the right kind of olive oil. Distributor of the world’s finest olive oils, Elizabeth Berger, and Professor Tim Spector discuss its health benefits, debunk myths, and explain how storage and cooking can affect nutritional value. In today's episode, we learn how to get the most from olive oil, why choosing the right olive oil is crucial and the significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of this kitchen staple. Elizabeth Berger is the founder of Frantoi, which works with growers and millers across Italy to harvest exceptional extra virgin olive oils. Tim Spector is a true olive oil evangelist, as well as one of the world’s top 100 most-cited scientists and ZOE's scientific co-founder. Learn how your body responds to food 👉 zoe.com/podcast for 10% off 🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30 *Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system Follow ZOE on Instagram

Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Quick fire questions 03:15 How is olive oil made? 04:25 The 4 grades of olive oil 11:20 Olive oil in Mediterranean diets 13:15 The science behind healthy olive oil 16:35 Why we need healthy fats 21:05 What are polyphenols? 23:06 Extra virgin vs regular olive oil 27:03 Is there food industry misinformation about olive oil? 25:55 The power of seasonal eating 26:50 The best time to buy olive oil 28:00 The biggest myths about olive oil 31:25 How to properly store olive oil 33:00 How long do the health benefits last? 39:10 Is it safe to cook with extra virgin olive oil? 42:55 Tasting session of 3 extra virgin oils 55:10 How to identify high-quality olive oil 57:30 Tips to get more olive oil in your diet

Books by our ZOE Scientists:

Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati

Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector

Fibre Fuelled by Dr Will Bulsiewicz

Free resources from ZOE:

Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition

Gut Guide - for a healthier microbiome in weeks

Mentioned in today's episode

Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil the Critical Ingredient Driving the Health Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet?, published in Nutrients 2023

Is There More to Olive Oil than Healthy Lipids?, published in Nutrients 15

Protective effects of oleic acid and polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil on cardiovascular diseases, published in Food Science and Human Wellness

Only virgin type of olive oil consumption reduces the risk of mortality, published in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 77

Extra-virgin olive oil and the gut-brain axis: influence on gut microbiota, mucosal immunity, and cardiometabolic and cognitive health, published in Nutrition Reviews

What do polyphenols do, and where can I find them?, published by ZOE

What is fat, and how much do you need?, published by ZOE

Evaluation of Chemical and Physical Changes in Different Commercial Oils during Heating, published by Acta Scientific Nutritional Health

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here. Episode transcripts are available here.

Release date

Lydbog: 1. august 2024