This morning I found a new source for flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars. I was thrilled! It got me thinking, why are these so popular right now? And, are there health benefits to using them? I mean I think it's becoming more common knowledge that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of the healthiest oils out there. But what about vinegar? After a few minutes of research, I learned that Yes! They are indeed good for you! This is so awesome because, I have to say, I think the flavored oils and vinegars are a game changer. A friend introduced to me that Raspberry White Balsamic mixed with Blood Orange Olive Oil makes a delightful salad dressing. After all that I've tried together since still doesn't compare to that combination. It's that good!
Why is EVOO healthy?
I always want to know why something is healthy rather than just taking someone's word for it. Turns out that EVOO is pure, which means that no chemicals are used, and it's not processed or not cooked to high heats to extract the oil - it's cold-pressed. Now, be sure it's extra virgin olive oil you're using. Virgin and refined olive oils are not the same thing and may not provide the same health benefits.
I did a blog a few weeks ago on essential nutrients (Essential Nutrients needed for Essential Health on July 7th), which goes into detail on unsaturated and saturated fats, so I'm not going to go into that today. But, EVOO is a great source of healthy monounsaturated fats, Vitamin E and Vitamin K, as well as 30 different helpful plant compounds.
Here's what EVOO does to improve your health:
Provide healthy monounsaturated fats
Packed with nutrients
Full of antioxidants that neutralize damaging free radicals
Reduce inflammation in the body
Fight against heart disease and stroke
Reduce the bad LDL cholesterol
Improve blood vessel health
Prevent unwanted blood clots
Lower blood pressure
Improve brain function
Aid in weight loss
Suppress appetite - hmmm... I think these last 2 are perhaps related.
Improve blood sugar levels
Reduce risk of Type 2 Diabetes
May reduce risk of cancer
Treats rheumatoid arthritis (which is especially effective combined with fish oil)
Slows progression of osteoarthritis
Full of antibacterial properties against stomach ulcers and stomach cancer, in particular
Relieve constipation
Lessen dry hair, skin and nails
Help your body absorb fat-soluble nutrients
Wow! That's a pretty comprehensive list of a multitude of health benefits. It's like a super food (and happens to be included on the super food list)!
Is vinegar healthy?
The thing about vinegar that has always surprised me is that it can be a household cleaner AND a food. I have to say that I much prefer it as a food over a cleaner. I've used vinegar to clean before, and it's not the fresh smell you want after cleaning your home. Well, it may be fresh, but it's fresh pickles. It's more of and ugh smell than an ahh smell. If you want to use it for cleaning, it's best used for cleaning mineral deposits and soap scum, such as on windows, drains and shower stalls. It is not strong enough to use as a natural disinfectant that kills 99.9% of bacteria, but there are plant-based options available - I use Solugard, which made the list the CDC published during Covid.
Anyway, back to the health benefits of vinegar. The use of vinegar dates back to 5000 BC. It's been used for thousands of years to treat many ailments, such as a digestive aid, to treat or dress wounds and to relieve coughs. There are those who swear that a tablespoon of ACV or apple cider vinegar will heal all that ails you, but there is no conclusive scientific studies that prove it. It's not going to hurt you, so if you think it helps, go ahead! It's certainly not going to hurt you.
As a whole, vinegar really doesn't have many nutrients, except for distilled vinegar, that has none. It does have acetic acid, as well as trace vitamins, mineral salts, amino acids, and polyphenolic compounds. It's very low in calories and has no sodium or sugars. It does, however, add an abundance of flavor if even using a teaspoon on your salad. You do need to check the label on some of the flavored vinegars because juices and sugars will sometimes be added for flavor. There are some benefits to using vinegar, which is why it's becoming more popular, especially as the flavored balsamics available.
Benefits of using vinegar:
Adds flavor to foods
Tenderizes meats
Curdles milk (adding a bit to milk to make it taste like buttermilk)
Preserves food (pickling kills bacteria that spoils fresh produce)
Inexpensive, non-toxic cleaner
The different types of vinegars:
White Distilled - made from distilled grain alcohols
Balsamic - made from fermented whole pressed grapes
Rice - made from fermented rice
Wine - made from red or white wine
Apple cider - made from the liquid of crushed apples ( I added the peels to mine while it fermented, too.)
Malt - made from fermented un-hopped beer
Flavored - usually made from wine vinegar that is infused with fruit purees or herbs
We started this by discussing the amazing variety of flavored olive oils and vinegars and that I found a new source. If you're local, I'd encourage you to stop by so you can do some taste testing. Be ready to have your tastebuds burst with delectable flavors! I hope you have the opportunity to visit a store near you, but you can always order online if you don't.
Here's where I like to purchase in our area:
Minnesota Olive Oil Company - located in Glenwood, MN, they have a wide array of oils and vinegars. You can order online and have your order shipped directly to your home, or they deliver to nearby cities to drop off at local stores for pick up. It's all on their website:
Yesterdays - here's my new source! They are located on Broadway in downtown Alexandria and are an antique consignment store with all kinds of fun treasures! They recently started selling Ole's Olive Oil, named after Big Ole of Alexandria folk lore. I'm not sure if they ship (which a viking would surely do - haha!)... they're having a hard time keeping it in stock! Here's their Facebook site to get more info:
Sources:
Amjera, Rachel. Healthline, What Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Why Is It Healthy? December 15, 2021
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source, Vinegar. October 2019.
Leech, Joe, MS. Healthline, 11 Proven Benefits of Olive Oil. February 3, 2023
Meixner, Makayla, MS, RDN. Healthline, 12 Benefits and Uses of Cold Pressed Olive Oil. January 9, 2020.
VanPelt, Greg. Livestrong, What's the Right Olive Oil Dosage and How Do You Take It to Reap Benefits? February 2, 2021.
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