Why Extra Virgin Olive Oil Belongs in Every Kitchen
Walk into almost any Mediterranean kitchen and you'll probably notice one ingredient sitting within easy reach: a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. It is poured over fresh salads, drizzled onto roasted vegetables, mixed into homemade dressings, stirred into soups, and even used for cooking everyday meals. For thousands of years, extra virgin olive oil has been far more than just another cooking fat. Today, modern nutrition science continues to support many of the reasons it has remained a staple of healthy cuisines around the world. Unlike highly refined vegetable oils, extra virgin olive oil is produced using minimal processing, allowing it to retain natural antioxidants, plant compounds, vitamins, and its distinctive flavor. But is it really healthier than other oils? Can you cook with it? Does heating destroy its benefits? Let's explore what science actually says. "Sometimes the healthiest ingredient in your kitchen is also one of the simplest." ...