It’s a mouthful, I know. 

And I bet you haven’t heard of this wonderful compound that you should really be introducing into your daily nutrition plan, so let’s get into it.

Hydroxytyrosol is a polyphenol found in our beloved extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). This potent antioxidant has been studied for its potential to protect against various diseases, which means it could have amazing health benefits.

So what exactly is hydroxytyrosol? Great question! Hydroxytyrosol is a derivative of tyrosol, is a powerful antioxidant found in the leaves, fruit and oil of the olive tree. In fact, it is one of the primary polyphenols responsible for the health benefits associated with olive oil consumption.

Some of the health benefits that hydroxytyrosol is known to have include the following:

1. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We all could use more of these!

2. Cardiovascular health by lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, improving blood vessel function and preventing platelet aggregation. 

3. Neuroprotection by reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammatory responses and promoting neuronal survival.

4. Anti-aging due to the high antioxidant properties.

As you probably know, consuming antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds through food is extremely important for health and longevity. The best thing you can do is use EVOO on a daily basis. It doesn’t take much. You can drizzle EVOO on a salad, use it in cooking, put it in oatmeal or my personal favorite, add it to smoothies (yes, I do this - does that surprise you?).

While there are hydroxytyrosol supplements, the recommended dosing is not well established so the registered dietitian (and Italian) in me just says to use more EVOO and not worry about taking a supplement in this case!

There you have it. Another amazing compound found in food that can support optimal health and longevity. Honestly, EVOO is SO easy to use, this is a no brainer, at least in my mind.

Want some help to improve your health, longevity and athletic performance? Reach out to one of our awesome Sports Dietitians at eNRG Performance!

PS - I can’t believe it but I’m already SOLD OUT of my Virtual FatBurn Program for October. I never expected it to be so popular but I wanted to let you know that I am doubling the amount of spots in November to get ready for the holidays.

If you want to be one of the 4 people to experience the FatBurn Blueprint transformation in November, REGISTER NOW!