A diet rich in foods that contain antioxidant qualities, such as extra virgin olive oil, can significantly lower your chances of developing certain diseases. A recent study looked at the benefits of combing two foods that contain these antioxidant promoting compounds, namely EVOO and thyme.
Extra virgin olive oil has been found to contain phenolic compounds which are well known for their antioxidant proponents. Thyme is another food that is high in phenolic compounds and like EVOO, consumption of this herb has been shown to protect against oxidative stress which ultimately is beneficial for disease prevention.
A randomized double-blind study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, aimed to determine if enriching EVOO with its own phenolic compounds or that of other food sources, such as thyme, could improve the bioavailability of EVOO and enhance its biological properties.
The study found that EVOO enriched with both its own phenolic compounds and thyme phenolic compounds did provide major protection against oxidative DNA damage. While there still needs to be further exploration into this concept, researched found substantial evidence to suggest that enriching EVOO could, in fact, be a suitable way to enhance the level of antioxidants in an individual’s everyday diet and, therefore, reduce the prevalence of disease.
To get your boost of antioxidants from EVOO and thyme you can infuse your oil with fresh thyme. Check out our tips for infusing olive oil.
Image Sources:Â http://mysticalmagicalherbs.com/2012/12/04/gifts-from-the-herb-garden/
Sources: http://www.oliveoiltimes.com/olive-oil-health-news/thyme-enriched-evoo-prevents-dna-damage/50925
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