Olive oil: how to choose it and use it without making mistakes
Furthermore, as the consumer association UFC Que Choisir points out, olive oil "is a concentrate of polyphenols and tocopherols (vitamin E extracts). Antioxidants produced by the olive to protect its fatty acids from oxidation, also protective for our cells and particularly our blood vessels by limiting the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)."
Olive oil is good. But does that mean you can eat it as much as you want, however you like? To reap all the benefits, your diet must also adapt. Simply drizzling olive oil on your beef isn't enough to reap the benefits. Remember that the Mediterranean diet is based on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, grains, and more.
Let's also not forget that olive oil is a fatty substance. It is therefore composed exclusively of lipids and is no less caloric than other oils. One to two tablespoons a day is enough.
A major advantage of olive oil is that it can be consumed both raw (in a vinaigrette, for example) and cooked. The idea that its quality deteriorates during cooking is false. In fact, the monounsaturated fatty acids it contains give it very good resistance to heat. Of course, above 210 C, the oil deteriorates, but this temperature is higher than the average frying temperature (180°C). "Therefore, there is no contraindication to heating olive oil," continues the UFC. "But since its aromas are destroyed above 70°C, it is better to use a basic olive oil for cooking and reserve high-end products for raw preparations."
First and foremost, olive oil deteriorates quickly. It's therefore best to buy oil from the same year. To prevent it from going rancid, it should be stored in a dry place away from air and, especially, light. Therefore, choose opaque glass bottles over clear glass.
The labeling of the origin is mandatory on oils sold in the European Union. It indicates both the origin of the olives and the place of production of the oil. "The consumer is not necessarily better informed because most products offered in stores are blends of oils from various sources," specifies UFC Que Choisir. The best option is still to choose products with a controlled designation of origin (AOC) or protected designation of origin (PDO).
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