Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) has a reputation as a superfood, as it contains an abundance of antioxidants proven to confer health benefits. One of these is oleocanthal (OC). Recently, researchers tested OC from EVOO and found that OC can induce rapid death in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. They found that OC induced the loss of cell adhesion in certain cancers within as little as thirty minutes, and within twenty-four hours, 100 percent of the cancer cells were non-viable.
Olive oil prices are increasing, so some producers adulterate EVOOs by adding cheap oils, such as soy, to bottles labeled “extra-virgin.” This term is legally regulated and means that EVOO can only be made from mechanically crushed olives.
When researchers tested EVOOs on supermarket shelves, they found that 31 percent were oxidized or had poor chemical quality.