While olive oil—extra virgin olive oil especially—can lure you in for its incredible flavor and taste; we truly fell in love when we learned about the powerhouse of health benefits that came with our favorite cooking fat. And the tiny superstars that power this health machine? Polyphenols! 

Polyphenols: POLY-FEE-NAHL

Polyphenols are natural compounds found in plants, kind of like nature's multitaskers. In olive oil, they're antioxidants with cell-repairing properties. Polyphenols help to fight off free radicals—those unstable molecules that can cause oxidative stress (fancy term for the kind of chaos that leads to aging and disease). Who doesn't want less stress and drama in their body, right? 

Polyphenol Properties

Polyphenols are anti-inflammatory and help to reduce inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is linked to various conditions, from heart disease to arthritis, so adding a little boost of polyphenols in your diet can go a long way. 

Olive oil is heart-healthy because of its monounsaturated fats, but polyphenols take that benefit to the next level. They help improve cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and keep your blood vessels flexible (flexible blood vessels are good!). All of these heart healthy properties keep your cardiac system pumping away like a well-oiled machine. Pun intended. 

In addition to the anti-inflammatory and heart health boosters, polyphenols also keep your brain sharp. Research suggests that these compounds can improve cognitive functions and may even help stave off neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Think of olive oil as a brain food! 

And to top it all off, as if olive oil couldn't get more perfect for internal-health benefits, it's also excellent for your skin. Thanks to polyphenols, your skin can benefit from antioxidant protection, reducing wrinkles and giving you that Mediterranean glow. 

Olive oil, especially Extra Virgin Olive Oil, really does it all! 

Not All Olive Oils Are Created Equal: The Polyphenol Edition

Here's the catch: not all olive oils are brimming with polyphenols. If you want to maximize your polyphenol intake, EVOO is the best way to do it. Because EVOO is not refined with extra heat or chemicals, the oil retains the highest levels of polyphenols.

So the next time you're in the grocery store, on the hunt for a polyphenol boost; pick up a bottle of Sizzle or Drizzle (or both!!) to polyphenol power up any recipe!