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THE SPANISH PARADOX AND THE RESPONSIBLE DECLARATION

The German philosopher, anthropologist, and biologist, Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach, in his writing 'Teaching of Nutrition' ('Lehre der Nahrungsmittel: Für das Volk') from 1850, wrote: "If you want to improve the people, instead of speeches against sins, give them better food. 'Man is what he eats'."

Did you know that Spain is the second country in the world, behind Japan, with the highest life expectancy? The paradox is that, according to our risk factors and health markers, life expectancy should be lower. Among these factors, the scientific community highlights:

  • Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension.
  • Smoking: Spain ranks among the top in Europe.
  • Sedentary lifestyle: Spain ranks among the top in Europe.
  • Fat consumption: Spain consumes the same or more fat than other European countries.
  • Quality of life index: Spain ranks 15th.

As we can see, the Spanish population has a high prevalence in almost all of these health markers. Compared to these health indices, where the Spanish population is above the average of most countries: what can differentiate us? Simple: In Spain, we eat well, we have a healthy and balanced diet. As Feuerbach said: "We are what we eat," and in Spain, we are fortunate to have our Mediterranean Diet. Many researchers agree that this is one of the main factors that contribute to our much higher life expectancy than in other countries. And, at this point, it is essential to highlight that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is its main component, along with fish consumption.

THE SPANISH PARADOX AND THE RESPONSIBLE DECLARATION - 2

We know that the caloric intake from fats in the Spanish population is around 40%, well above international recommendations (<35%). However, out of this fat intake, 20% comes from olive oil. The second uniqueness of Spain is the high consumption of fish. Along with Norway and Japan, we are the countries that consume the most fish.

The health effects of consuming Extra Virgin Olive Oil are well demonstrated by numerous research studies. Many of these positive health effects come from its minor components, which disappear when the oil is refined or degrades over time. All Extra Virgin Olive Oils contain numerous minor components that, when consumed, are beneficial for our health. An example of these components is polyphenols. Therefore, never forget:

CONSUME EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL (EVOO), AND IF IT'S FRESH, EVEN BETTER!

THE SPANISH PARADOX AND THE RESPONSIBLE DECLARATION - 3

Why is an Exclusive Health Statement important for Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)?

As reflected in the 'Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index' report, Spain is the healthiest country in the world after analyzing 169 countries based on statistics from the World Health Organization and the World Bank. The report highlights that dietary habits can provide crucial clues about the good health levels enjoyed by Spain. As mentioned earlier: the Mediterranean Diet with Olive Oil as the main source of fat and high fish consumption.

On the other hand, the European Food Safety Agency outlines the health claims that can be included in labeling for consumer information in RD 432/2012. Many EVOOs can carry this Health Statement on their label due to their polyphenol content, as long as it is above 250 mg/kg. These beneficial effects occur when consuming 5 mg of polyphenols per day.

Fresh Extra Virgin Olive Oil meets this labeling requirement, and all EVOOs contain, to a greater or lesser extent, polyphenols and other health-benefiting components. Polyphenols are responsible for the characteristic pungency and bitterness of Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs).

Below, we offer a selection of the vast amount of scientific studies conducted on this subject, which have formed the basis of the comments detailed in this article:

  • PREDIMED studies on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
  • Newcastle University study on the benefits of EVOO in premature infants.
  • Study on the relationship between breast milk and EVOO in the Journal of Family and Reproductive Health.
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