As the olive oil intake of Americans increases (and increase it has!), so has the amount of research being conducted into the incredible health benefits of 100% extra virgin olive oil in fighting Breast Cancer.  

A recent study into the effects of one of Extra Virgin Olive Oil's main components, oleic acid, shows it to be effective in breast cancer prevention and treatment.  Oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fatty acid, can weaken a cancer gene found in 25-30% of all breast cancers according to a study published in the Annals of Oncology. This same oleic acid has shown to dramatically increase the effectiveness dramatically of the breast cancer drug Herceptin. That's not all...

MUFA's

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFA's, and their health benefits are numerous. For example, a government study proved that these fatty acids did not cause weight gain and helps prevent type 2 diabetes. For diabetics, these MUFA's can help regulate insulin and blood sugar levels. MUFA's also have shown positive links to reduce heart problems and the rate of heart disease deaths.

Antioxidants

Olive oil contains valuable antioxidants such as Vitamin E & K and Oleocanthal. Olecanthal is a much discussed antioxidant, the primary phenol compound found in olive oil. You can almost measure the amount present in a particular olive oil yourself by the amount of 'stinging' you get in the back of your throat. Oleocanthal has remarkable anti-inflammatory effects and can be used as an effective pain reliever, without the harmful gastrointestinal side effects of drugs like ibuprofen.

A recent study conducted by Rutgers University and Hunter College shows that, in the lab, Oleocanthal can kill a cancer cell in just 30 minutes. Oleocanthal attacks the lysosomes in cancer cells, but not healthy cells, to destroy the cell. Certainly the human body is much more complex than cells in a lab, but this study as a proof of concept reinforces the possibilities of this antioxidants and the wide variety if health benefits of olive oils.

Phenols

The high phenol concentration found in extra virgin olive oil is responsible for many of the health benefits. An exciting new study conducted in Spain shows that cooking your vegetables in olive oil actually results in a higher phenol content in the vegetables versus other methods such as boiling or steaming. So if you were hesitant about cooking with olive oil, this study indeed proves that cooking with olive oil improves the nutritional content of the dish. 

Of course, all of these benefits are contingent on using a 100% extra virgin olive oil. Nutrients are directly correlated with quality of the olive oil and purchasing inexpensive mass produced oils from the supermarket simply will not deliver these qualities. The Olive Tap sources small batched first cold pressed extra virgin olive oils for which the Certificate of Analysis of each oil is available to view at each store simply by asking. These certificates reveal the chemical make up of the oil, how many polyphenols and the level of acidity, ensuring you the highest quality of olive oil freshly sourced from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres throughout the year.