What is Olive Oil? What is it used for? Olive Oil is derived from the fruit of the olive tree, which has the distinction of being perhaps the earliest botanical ever mentioned. It was an olive branch that the dove delivered to Noah to signal the end of the Great Flood, and the olive branch is a universal symbol of peace. In Revelations there is a divine vision of the “Tree of Life” whose leaves “were for the healing of nations.” Perhaps the olive tree? Ancient Egyptians considered the olive leaf a symbol of divine power, and used olive oil to embalm their kings because of its amazing preservative powers. More recent cultures eventually discovered that the olive leaf also possessed curative properties that are still being researched today. Modern researchers have zeroed in on Olive Oil as the likely reason that the famed “Mediterranean diet” is so healthy. Mediterranean cultures seem to derive most of their fat calories from Olive Oil, while Western cultures derive theirs primarily from animal fats and other forms of saturated fats. Although the Mediterranean diet is higher in vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, you can’t overlook the fact that Olive Oil is the principal source of fat, and a healthy alternative to animal fats and butter. Olive Oil’s health benefits are attributable to several naturally occurring components. It is high in oleic acid, a monosaturated fatty acid (MUFA) that may stimulate bile production, aiding digestion. It is low in saturated fatty acids, or “bad fat”, and contains a good balance of polyunsturated fatty acids (PUFA), like vitamins, antioxidants, and linoleic acid. When cooking, Olive Oil has numerous distinct advantages over other cooking oils. It has a higher smoking point than the desired temperature for frying food and forms a crust on the outside of fried foods that decreases oil penetration and enhances flavor. Foods fried in Olive Oil are not as greasy. It can be re-used often without spoiling or losing its taste, increases in volume when reheated, and remains very digestible even if re-used. Is NOW® Foods Olive Oil cold pressed? NOW® Virgin Olive Oil is cold-pressed without the use of solvents or other chemicals. It is 100% pure Virgin Olive Oil with no additives or preservatives. NOW® carries other vegetable-derived oils in addition to Olive Oil. We also carry Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and Jojoba Oil, plus many more. Does NOW® carry Olive Oil in another form besides liquid? NOW® also carries two different forms of Olive Leaf Extract in vegetable capsules. These two products are extracted from Olive Leaves, not the fruit. We carry a 500mg product standardized to contain 6% oleuropein, one of the active components in Olive Leaves. We also carry an Extra Strength product that contains 18% oleuropein, with 500mg of Echinacea for synergism. Capsules are more convenient to carry than liquid. | 
