The most characteristic product of the Mediterranean Diet is Virgin Olive Oil.
The Virgin Olive Oil is the result of grinding the olive tree fruits, called olives. This process is carried out in what is called a mill.
This product is grown in the Mediterranean area. Half of the worldwide production of this oil is cultivated in Spain alone. Its cultivation is dated back between 5000-3000 BC
Breakdown:
At a bromatological level we can say that olive oil has two fractions:
- Saponifiable fraction: the largest fraction (around 98%) composed of triglycerides, free fatty acids…
- Non-saponifiable fraction: the smallest fraction (around 2%) made up of pigments, volatile compounds, polyphenols, tocopherols…
But without a doubt, the most important component is Oleic Acid, which amounts to 65-82%, depending on the quality of the Virgin Olive Oil.
The rest of fatty acids that accompany it are palmitic, linoleic, linolenic … Without forgetting vitamins, monounsaturated fats …
Nutritional properties:
Most of the nutritional properties attributed to Virgin Olive Oil are provided by the Oleic Acid and its high content of this, since for example, it exerts vector for the fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin E.
If we refer to human nutrition, we could fill page after page talking about the properties due to the numerous studies that have been carried out. But in this case we are going to focus on the benefits that adding a small amount of Virgin Olive Oil can do to a dogs diet (let’s not forget that it is a very energetic food and that the doses it requires to be beneficial are not especially high given its composition)
What does Virgin Olive Oil do for dogs?
Above all it is a source of antioxidants such as vitamin and the polyphenols that make it up.
Virgin Olive Oil also prevents the appearance of bad cholesterol (LDL) by reducing its amount and therefore reducing the risk of suffering health problems derived from hypercholesterolemia (thrombosis, obesity …) Another characteristic that catches our attention is that an intake of Virgin Olive Oil daily also helps in diabetic animals, since it can reduce the amount of insulin that the animal may need with an unbalanced diet. It also prevents cellular aging and formation of cancer cells within the body. Finally, the amount of fatty acids and their composition makes your pet’s hair look much healthier and brighter.
All these characteristics are directly attributed to Virgin Olive Oil, but let’s not forget that it helps the absorption of other fat-soluble vitamins, which in turn help in the absorption of minerals, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc.
Some of you may ask why not directly give them Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids instead of Virgin Olive Oil, since their effects are very potent in the body, well, although olive oil does not have large proportions of these acids (we know that most is oleic acid) its concentration is balanced along with the rest of acids, in addition to being accompanied by vitamin E and phenolic compounds. All together, generating superior benefits compared to those produced by the intake of Omega 3 and 6 in an isolated form. Therefore all anti-inflammatory and dermal regenerative effects will also be favored by Virgin Olive Oil.
As you will have observed, the benefits of olive oil are infinite and a large intake of it is not necessary to see them. That is why we wanted to add olive oil to the Mediterranean diet feed, so that the animal acquires in its usual food, all the compounds that would otherwise have to supplemented by tablets and nutritional supplements. That is why olive oil is special in the Mediterranean Diet.