If you want the best quality olive oil, there are a few things on the label you must check (Image: Getty)
Good quality olive oil can be extremely beneficial to your , and it’s a firm part of the popular Mediterranean diet.
The extra virgin variety in particular is a powerhouse of potential benefits – it’s rich in healthy monounsaturated fats which can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, according to .
It’s also packed with vitamins, with one tablespoon being an excellent source of vitamins K and E.
However, when you’re browsing the shelves of your local in order to pick up a bottle of the stuff, you’re often faced with a load of different varieties – so it can be hard to know what’s actually going to be beneficial.
Luckily a gut health expert has lifted the lid one one mistake you should never make when shopping for olive oil – and that’s failing to read the label.
Olive oil is a key part of the Mediterranean diet (Image: Getty)
TikToker and gut health scientist Mr Gut Health, who has been sharing his Mediterranean diet journey for years now, has lifted the lid on the best way that shoppers can identify a legitimate olive oil in shop shelves.
He says there are three key things to look out for when buying legitimate olive oil – the first being the most important.
The pro said: “If it says extra virgin, then it’s pretty much guaranteed.”
Extra virgin means its unrefined, meaning it retains more of its natural flavor, vitamins, and minerals, and it’s also made without heat or chemicals.
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The next thing to look at is where the olive oil originates from, which you should be able to clearly see on the label. Holding up a bottle of the Filippo Berio brand, he said: “Some EVOO, like this one, uses olives from different countries.
“Whilst oil from the one country might be better for traceability, using olives from different countries is fine.
And the third and final thing to consider is a very important sentence – usually found on the back of the bottle – that will tell you all you need to know about how it’s made.
Flipping the bottle over and reading from the label, the expert said: “Superior category olive oil obtained directly from olives and solely by mechanical means.
“This ensures that the oil has been extracted properly to preserve its nutrients. And FYI, you can cook with EVOO, and it’s much healthier to use than butter or tallow.”