Extra virgin olive oil is the purest and healthiest type of olive oil.
Though many types of oil exist, there are four core categories of olive oil. There is extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, refined olive oil and pomace olive oil.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed. It is basically taken from the tree and pressed. What is extracted from the olive is the natural juices within, carrying the natural aromas with it. It’s under 1% in its acidic level, which makes it very attractive. Because it’s so pure it can be sprinkled on food items in its natural state. For instance, it’s very popular to place on salads.
Virgin Olive Oil
Virgin olive oil is natural extracted as well but contains a higher acidic level than virgin olive oil. It’s not as potent in the aroma. It’s considered one grade below extra virgin olive oil.
Refined Olive Oil
Refined olive oil is usually a combination of some extra virgin olive oil and virgin oil but is often extracted by heat and interfaces with chemical substances. This kind of oil is usually used for cooking as it has a higher boiling point.
Pomace Olive Oil
Pomace olive oil is the least pure of the olive oils. It’s composed more of the residue of the olive oil that was extracted.
The Best Type of Olive Oil for Health Purposes
From a health perspective, extra virgin olive oil is the choicest. It’s an unsaturated fat that carries many antioxidants. Antioxidants serve to protect the cells from harm of free roaming molecules by giving over an oxygen molecule to the roaming radicals disallowing them to cause destruction to the body.
As a monounsaturated fat, extra virgin olive oil breaks down faster in the body. This is because it has a double carbon bond giving it more of a curved shape allowing the body to break it down easier.
A saturated fat has only one carbon bond and is more stable, having more of a flat shape, preventing the body from breaking it down easily, causing more stress on the digestion process.
Extra virgin olive oil is also helpful in terms of managing cholesterol. Studies have found that it reduces LDL, the bad cholesterol but increases HDL, the good cholesterol.
Extra virgin olive oil is replete with Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Vitamin E can reduce the risk of heart disease and Vitamin K can help with blood clotting.
There are many kosher products to choose from in the olive oil category. Just as a sampling in the extra virgin olive arena, Kroger offers OU kosher-certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil. If you want a sampling from Italy, a country known for their olive oil production, you could experience OU kosher-certified Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil.