Not all olive oil is the same. Life Extension's unfiltered, cold-pressed California Estate Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil comes from USDA certified organic olives grown without pesticides, hand-picked at the peak of ripeness, and milled within hours of harvest. And our olive oil provides over 800 mg/kg of naturally occurring olive polyphenols.

Benefits at a Glance:

• Made from USDA certified organic hand-picked and fresh milled olives.
• Helps promote healthy HDL levels already within normal range.
• Helps inhibit LDL oxidation.
• Supports endothelial function and cardiovascular health.
• Promotes healthy blood pressure already within normal range.

The Mediterranean Diet

The heart-healthy Mediterranean diet focuses heavily on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts, limited intake of red meats, herbs and spices instead of salt, lean proteins like fish and poultry, and most importantly, olive oil.

Heart Healthy Olive Oil Polyphenols

Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids (primarily oleic acid), which is less susceptible to oxidation than other types of fatty acids, and is an underlying reason for olive oil's abundant health benefits. A study found that the intake of two tablespoons of olive oil daily supported cardiovascular health.

But it is antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that contribute most to olive oil's beneficial effects. Hydroxytyrosol for instance, is a polyphenol found in olive oil that has been shown to have important cardiovascular benefits.

Supports Healthy Lipid Levels Already Within Normal Range

Olive oil supports healthy levels of “good” HDL cholesterol already within normal range. The beneficial results seen in those consuming the polyphenol-rich olive oil diet may have been promoted by the increased number of polyphenols bound to HDL, protecting it from oxidation.

Promotes Endothelial Function

In a 2013 double-blind clinical trial, US and Italian researchers found that consuming 30 mL (2 tablespoons) of polyphenol-rich olive oil daily for four months significantly improved endothelial function. And olive oil improved endothelial function in as little as two hours after consumption.

Plus, evidence indicates that the polyphenols in olive oil can interact with a hereditary gene variant of endothelial nitric oxide synthase to improve endothelial function after meals.

Helps Maintain Normal Blood Pressure Already Within Normal Range

Recent research indicates that olive oil's polyphenol content may affect blood pressure health as well. In a one-year study, researchers found that increased extra virgin olive oil intake, as part of a Mediterranean diet, supported healthy blood pressure already within normal range.