subject: Need Pain Relief? Then Give Oleocanthal A Try [print this page] Oleocanthal is a tyrosol ester and phytonutrient that is only found in extra virgin olive oil. It is an extremely powerful nutrient that can reduce inflammation, relieve pain and more. In this article I will be looking at olecanthal in detail and providing an overview of its main health benefits.
1) DISCOVERY:
Oleocanthal was discovered in 2005 by Gary K.Beauchamp and his team of researchers. Studies into this tyrosol ester began in 1999 after Gary K.Beauchamp noticed a ticklish, peppery taste at the back of his throat after testing extra virgin olive oil in Sicily. He realised that this taste was very similar to that of liquid ibuprofen and decided to study it further. His studies revealed that this new substance also acted like ibuprofen and was effective at relieving pain and reducing inflammation.
2) HEALTH BENEFITS:
Like many of the tyrosol esters, oleocanthal is a powerful antioxidant that fights dangerous free radicals. Free radicals are nasty substances that are released into your body's cells during oxygen related reactions and have been linked with cancer (a health disorder where your body's cells start to grow in a rapid, uncontrollable way), diabetes (a health disorder that causes your blood glucose levels to become extremely high) and premature ageing. In addition to this, it is a potent anti-inflammatory (a substance that minimises unnecessary inflammation in the body) which can relieve the painful symptoms associated with inflammation.
Early evidence indicates that oleocanthal may also prevent Alzheimer's disease (a mental disorder that causes memory loss and speech loss), prevent cancer, prevent heart disease and reduce blood levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (a type of cholesterol that blocks the artery walls and increases your heart disease risk). However, more studies are needed before these benefits can be confirmed.
3) RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE (RDA):
No official RDA has been set for oleocanthal but some sources suggest ingesting 9 milligrams (mg) of this tyrosol ester per day will allow you to activate its health benefits.
4) FOOD SOURCES:
Extra virgin olive oil is the only food source of oleocanthal with a 100 millilitre (ml) serving giving you 18mg of this tyrosol ester.
5) SUMMARY:
Oleocanthal is very promising phytonutrient. Not only can it relieve pain, reduce inflammation and fight free radicals but it may also keep you safe from a wide range of other nasty health disorders. So next time you are out shopping skip the standard olive oil and pick up some extra virgin olive oil instead. It may cost more in terms of cash but it is an excellent investment for good health.
