We can spot a fake Louie bag a mile a way, but can you spot fake olive oil?
Why Olive Oil is totally Nutrish Mish approved:
Not all fats are created equal. Just like there are good carbs (fruits, veggies, whole grains), and not so good ones (cake, cookies, white bread), there are good fats, and not so good fats. Olive oil happens to be one of the best fats for you if it is legit. Olive oil is mostly monounsaturated fats which happen to be the healthiest for you, and trust us- this kind of fat, does not make you fat. They have been found to have a positive effect on genes that could potentially cause cancer, and acts as a powerful anti inflammatory. WoOo! So what is the deal with this imposter olive oil going around?
Fake Out
Quite often bottles of olive oil will contain some lower quality oils such as soy or sunflower oil. Olive oils that have been exposed to light can easily be rancid...not cool.
How To Spot a Fake
- Light Olive Oil- Light olive oil is a bit of an oxymoron. The legal definition of lite in the world of nutrition means it contains about 1/3 less calories or 1/2 the fat of a comparable product. Olive oil is by definition a fat, so this might be a red flag to look out for
- Natural or Pure- The terms "natural" and "pure" are unregulated, meaning there is no criteria a product must meet to claim as "natural" or "pure". This doesn't mean a product isn't natural, it just means it doesn't have to be.
- First Pressed/Cold Pressed- Olive oil isn't pressed these days, it is extracted in a centrifuge. Doesn't necessarily mean that it is fake, but these are marketing terms that don't have an actual meaning.
- Good olive oils will contain a harvest date. You don't want to eat olive oils that are over a year old. Once you open up a bottle, the olive oil begins to break down, so make sure you buy in small quantities.
- Bottles that aren't dark- Light damages olive oil, so the container should be tinted. If you shop at Fairway, the olive oil section of their store is dimly lit to preserve the integrity of the oil.
- Anything other then Extra Virgin- Even if oil is labeled extra virgin, it still might be mixed with other oils, but anything other then extra virgin won't have all of the health benefits you are looking for.
- There are a few third party companies who certify genuine olive oil:
- EVA
- COOC
- 100% Quality Italiana
Even if you aren't an olive oil connoisseur, you can taste the difference once you are used to the good stuff!