Health & WellbeingSalute & Benessere

The science
in every drop.
La scienza
in ogni goccia.

For thousands of years olive oil has been called medicine. Modern research is proving why. Castruriali's cold-pressed, single-origin oil concentrates the nutrients and polyphenols at the heart of the Mediterranean diet — the most studied way of eating on earth.

73%
Heart-healthy monounsaturated fat — chiefly oleic acid
Keys, Seven Countries Study
30%
Lower risk of major cardiovascular events on a Mediterranean diet rich in EVOO
PREDIMED, NEJM 2013
30+
Distinct phenolic antioxidants identified in extra virgin olive oil
Peer-reviewed analyses
— Head to Toe

Where it works.

Select a part of the body to see what the evidence says about extra virgin olive oil — and the compounds responsible.

HeartBrainGutJointsSkin
Cardiovascular

A friend to the heart.

Olive oil's monounsaturated fat helps lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol while protecting HDL ("good") cholesterol — and its polyphenols ease the inflammation that stiffens arteries.

~30%
fewer heart attacks & strokes in the EVOO arm of the PREDIMED trial
73%
monounsaturated oleic acid by content
Estruch R. et al. — PREDIMED trial, New England Journal of Medicine 2018;378:e34 (orig. 2013;368:1279) · ~30% lower relative risk of major cardiovascular events
— What's Inside

The active compounds.

Tap any nutrient to see what it does, the evidence behind it and how cold extraction keeps more of it in every Castruriali bottle.

Monounsaturated Fats

Up to 73% oleic acid — the backbone of the oil.

Health benefits
  • Lowers LDL while preserving HDL cholesterol
  • Provides steady energy and aids nutrient absorption
  • Helps calm inflammation
Evidence
Oleic acid is the cornerstone fat of the Mediterranean diet, repeatedly linked to better cardiovascular health (Keys, Seven Countries Study, 1970).
The Castruriali difference
Cold extraction and ripe Sicilian olives give a naturally high oleic-acid content.

Polyphenols

30+ antioxidant compounds, incl. hydroxytyrosol.

Health benefits
  • Neutralise oxidative stress
  • Protect blood lipids from oxidation
  • Linked to lower neurodegenerative risk
Evidence
The EU food-safety authority recognises that olive-oil polyphenols help protect blood lipids from oxidative damage (EFSA, 2011); the PREDIMED trial linked them to better heart outcomes (NEJM, 2013).
The Castruriali difference
Traditional cold extraction preserves a high polyphenol load — the source of our peppery finish.

Oleocanthal

The peppery 'cough' — a natural anti-inflammatory.

Health benefits
  • Inhibits COX enzymes much like ibuprofen
  • Eases chronic, low-grade inflammation
  • Studied for long-term protective effects
Evidence
Identified as a natural COX inhibitor with ibuprofen-like activity (Beauchamp et al., Nature, 2005).
The Castruriali difference
Freshness and minimal processing mean more oleocanthal survives to your spoon.

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

A fat-soluble antioxidant for cells and skin.

Health benefits
  • Protects cell membranes from free-radical damage
  • Improves skin hydration and elasticity
  • Supports immune function
Evidence
Vitamin E reduces cellular damage from oxidative stress (Traber & Atkinson, Annual Review of Nutrition, 2007).
The Castruriali difference
Cold pressing keeps vitamin E intact, where heat and refining destroy it.

Squalene

A natural emollient and skin protector.

Health benefits
  • Hydrates skin and supports the skin barrier
  • Aids hormone and vitamin D synthesis
  • Helps protect against UV damage
Evidence
Squalene helps protect DNA and cell membranes (Smith et al., Nutrition and Cancer, 2000); prized in skincare since Roman times.
The Castruriali difference
Sicilian olives are naturally rich in squalene, retained in our unrefined oil.

Phytosterols

Plant compounds that block cholesterol uptake.

Health benefits
  • Compete with cholesterol for absorption
  • Support healthier total cholesterol
  • Promote cardiovascular health
Evidence
Shown to reduce cholesterol absorption in controlled studies (Ostlund, American Journal of Cardiology, 2002).
The Castruriali difference
Naturally retained — no processing strips them out.

Carotenoids

Beta-carotene and the pigments behind the colour.

Health benefits
  • Convert to vitamin A for eye health
  • Strengthen immune defences
  • Reduce oxidative stress
Evidence
Carotenoids support retinal and immune health across the nutrition literature.
The Castruriali difference
Vivid green-gold colour reflects a living carotenoid content.

Chlorophyll

The green of a fresh-pressed oil.

Health benefits
  • Supports the body's natural detoxification
  • Contributes freshness and aroma
  • Antioxidant activity
Evidence
Valued for its antioxidant and detoxifying role in plant compounds research.
The Castruriali difference
Early-harvest olives give our oil its fresh, grassy green hue.

Gut-Friendly Phenolics

Prebiotics for a balanced microbiome.

Health benefits
  • Feed beneficial gut bacteria
  • Increase microbiota diversity
  • Support digestion
Evidence
Olive-oil polyphenols improve gut-microbiota diversity (Cerdá et al., Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016).
The Castruriali difference
Minimal filtration retains the phenolics your gut thrives on.
— Make It a Habit

A daily ritual.

The benefits compound with consistency. A tablespoon or two a day, the Mediterranean way.

Morning Spoon

Take a teaspoon neat on an empty stomach to start the day with polyphenols.

Finish, Don't Fry

Drizzle raw over finished dishes to keep the most delicate antioxidants intact.

Fresh Is Best

Use opened bottles within a few months — polyphenols fade gently with time.

Pair With Plants

Olive oil helps your body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in vegetables.

  1. Keys, A. (1970) 'The Seven Countries Study', Nutrition Today, 5(2).
  2. Estruch, R. et al. / PREDIMED Investigators (2013) 'Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet', New England Journal of Medicine, 368(14), pp. 1279–1290.
  3. Beauchamp, G.K. et al. (2005) 'Ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil', Nature, 437(7055), pp. 45–46.
  4. Valls-Pedret, C. et al. (2015) 'Mediterranean diet and age-related cognitive decline', JAMA Internal Medicine / Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 45(3).
  5. Cerdá, B. et al. (2016) 'Gut microbiota modification with polyphenols', Frontiers in Microbiology, 7, 923.
  6. Traber, M.G. & Atkinson, J. (2007) 'Vitamin E, antioxidant and nothing more', Annual Review of Nutrition, 27.
  7. Ostlund, R.E. (2002) 'Phytosterols and cholesterol metabolism', The American Journal of Cardiology, 90(5).
  8. Smith, T.J. et al. (2000) 'Squalene and its potential chemopreventive properties', Nutrition and Cancer, 38(1).
  9. Tsukahara, K. et al. (2001) 'Olive oil and skin', Dermatology.
  10. European Food Safety Authority (2011) 'Scientific Opinion on olive-oil polyphenols', EFSA Journal, 9(4):2033.
  11. Schwingshackl, L. & Hoffmann, G. (2014) 'Monounsaturated fatty acids, olive oil and health status', Lipids in Health and Disease, 13:154.
  12. Guasch-Ferré, M. et al. (2022) 'Olive oil consumption and cardiovascular & total mortality', Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 79(2):101–112.
  13. World Health Organization (2023) Fact sheet: Healthy diet.
  14. Martínez-González, M.A. et al. (2019) 'The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health', Circulation Research, 124(5):779–798.

This page is for general information and reflects published nutritional research; it is not medical advice. Extra virgin olive oil is a food, not a treatment. If you have a specific health condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

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