Olive Oil Nutrition Tidbit:

An olive is a fruit, not a vegetable, so technically olive oil is a fatty fruit juice. Unlike other fruit juices, it’s purely an oil that’s sugar-free and contains no carbohydrates.

I try to include at least 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil in my daily diet, not only for its nutritional benefits- see below- but also because a high-quality olive oil has so much flavor. Olive oil can vary on levels of acidity, spiciness, bitterness and sweetness. My Italian masters program in food culture and communications, housed in a castle in the countryside at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, in Piedmont, included lessons and exams on the sensory analysis of Italian “good, clean and fair” food products, including extra-virgin olive oil, not to mention other gastronomical pleasures, such as artisanal meat, cheese and wine. Needless to say, I highly recommend any “foodie” to enroll in a food sensory class and take your taste buds on a wild adventure!

Here is my personal sensory analysis of Wild Oats brand Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, and I encourage you to do your own taste test!

Sweet:  A tad sweet

Spicy: Very peppery

Acidity: Mild acidity level

Bitterness: Slightly bitter

Other: Hints of lemon and orange

Personal recommended usage: kale or spinach salads, cold pasta salads, drizzled on top of low fat cottage cheese or used to dip whole-grain bread.

Here are the nutrition benefits of Wild Oats Extra-Virgin Olive Oil:

Nutritionally Authentic:

USDA Certified Organic food product

Only one ingredient: Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil- nothing else added at all

It’s an Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (which means that it’s the purest kind of olive oil)

A Walmart Great For You product

Nutritionally Affordable:

Rich source of heart healthy omega-3’s with an affordable price tag

Nutritionally Accessible:

Available at Walmart

Medical Nutrition Therapy Tips and Solutions:

Cancer: Choose organic extra-virgin olive oil to lower risk of certain cancers.

Diabetes: Although olives are technically a fruit, extra-virgin olive oil is sugar-free and contains no carbohydrates.

Heart Health: A recent study found that consuming 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) of extra-virgin olive oil per day reduced risks of cardiovascular events by 30 percent in people without heart disease.

Elderly, and Those Who are Failing to Thrive or Malnourished: Stir in a tablespoon or two of Wild Oats organic extra-virgin olive oil into pureed foods or soups to add heart-healthy calories to the diet for those who are frail, need additional calories or are malnourished.