Olive oil has long been a precious commodity, dating back to antiquity. With the famed physician Hippocrates using olive oil for medicine, it was clear from its earliest manufacturing that olive oil held a range of health benefits. Current research has continued to support the health benefits of olive oil and its benefits in a healthy diet, particularly when it comes to heart health. Rich in mono and polyunsaturated fats, olive has been linked to reduced inflammation, which can prevent heart disease and other conditions that are affected by inflammation.
A team of researchers at Anglia Ruskin University suggest that producing olive oil may yield more than one healthy substance. In fact, one of the waste products produced by olive oil, olive fruit water, may also have some beneficial health benefits. There is even some olive fruit water that is commercially available, a product called OilPhenolia. They describe the health properties of olive fruit water in a recenter article published in Nutrients.
In the article, researchers studied how olive fruit water impacts the exercise capacity of people who are currently physically active. During the study, researchers followed 29 physically active people. Participants were randomized into one of two groups: one group consumed OilPhenolia while another received a placebo that looked and tasted similar. All participants consumed OilPhenolia or placebo over the course of 16 days.
At the end of the study, researchers found that OilPhenolia improved overall running performance, as indicated by a few key parameters. Participants who consumed OilPHenolia had improvements in the following areas:
While OilPhenolia didn’t have as much effect on higher intensity activities, participants still perceived they were working hard. Participants in the OilPhenolia group also saw improvements in acute recovery in certain instances.
Researchers point to the rich amounts of polyphenols in olive oil water, as well as a compound called hydroxytryosol. While olive oil water is often thrown out, some companies produce a dietary supplement. According to the new study in Nutrients, it may offer some benefits to people who are regularly engaged in aerobic physical activity.
Sources: Science Daily; Nutrients
