The Olive Oil Health Club

Yes, the Health Club oils meet the EU Regulation 432/2012 health claim for extra virgin olive oil (EVOO): olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress. The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 20g of olive oil.

If you’re a real health seeker and use olive oil mostly for its nutritional benefits, then the Health Club—with polyphenol levels over 750 mg/kg—is for you. If you’re more interested in discovering new profiles, regions and producers, and want to cook with your EVOO as well as finish dishes with it, choose the Olive Oil Club. These oils change each month to showcase flavour and varietal distinction in EVOO, whereas the Health Club oils do not change every month. Both memberships can work beside each other, serving all your flavour and nutritional needs.

Our Health Club oils are all early harvest. This means the olives are picked early in their ripening phase, when they are still hard and green. This is when the olives have the highest polyphenol content. Not only do early harvested olives produce lower oil yields, they also require more labour—they are often hand picked (as opposed to machine harvested). We pay our producers well above market rates, and practices like this command even higher prices.

We also put the Health Club EVOOs through more in-depth lab analysis, pulling out specifics—like oleocanthal and oleacein levels—not just the overall polyphenol content.

Polyphenols (the organic compounds that are mainly responsible for the health benefits) are mostly found in virgin olive oils, and even more abundantly in extra virgin olive oil, a grading which represents a superior quality oil. If it isn’t labelled ‘extra virgin’ or ‘virgin’, the oil is refined—a processing technique which strips away the polyphenols and flavour. In short, the more processed the olive oil, the fewer polyphenols.

Outside the virgin olive oil category, most olive oils are refined, highly-processed, bleached, and deodorised, creating shelf-stable, lifeless oil at a lower cost. Comparing EVOO to these oils is like comparing freshly squeezed orange juice to Fanta. Even avocado and coconut oils aren't regulated the same way as extra virgin olive oil.

Research into the benefits of high polyphenol oils has only been conducted on EVOOs with polyphenol levels of up to 800-1000 total mg/kg. More research is needed to determine the benefits—or risks—of EVOOs with even higher levels.  

However, health isn’t just about the polyphenol content. Growing and production methods matter too, and research shows that nature-friendly farming practices that increase organic matter in soil, produce food with higher nutrient density. That’s why we go to certified organic groves, and source from regenerative producers.

Olive oil is said to line your gut, soften the stool and, as a result, relieve constipation. It’s also known to address the main causes of bloating. 

Research shows that EVOO’s unique monounsaturated fats and bioactive compounds interact directly with your gut microbiota. Regular consumption is linked to a more diverse, health-promoting microbiome and a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory species. Its polyphenols even offer selective antimicrobial effects—strengthening your intestinal barrier, nourishing colon cells, and modulating immune function to reduce gut inflammation.

Having healthy fats in the morning slows down the absorption of any carbs and sugars we might consume later on. When your blood sugar is not suddenly spiked, you will avoid the afternoon slumps and shield yourself from the triggers of diabetes. 

Monounsaturated fats, such as those found in extra virgin olive oil, support insulin sensitivity by improving the flexibility of cell membranes, which allows insulin signals to work more effectively. They also help reduce inflammation and limit the build-up of fats that interfere with insulin action in muscle and liver tissue. When consumed as extra virgin olive oil, these effects may be further enhanced by natural polyphenols that support metabolic and vascular health.

EVOOs unique synergy of oleic acid and bioactive polyphenols work to improve blood lipid profiles—lowering “bad” cholesterol while enhancing the function of the “good.” Beyond cholesterol, these compounds interact directly with your blood vessels, helping them relax to improve blood flow and reducing the chronic inflammation that can lead to vessel damage. It’s a functional foundation for your heart, grounded in the proven mechanisms of longevity.

Many of these benefits are down to a particular phenolic compound called Oleuropein. Alexis Kerner, a leading international olive oil expert & environmental scientist, tells us why.

EVOO contains oleocanthal, a potent polyphenol with anti-inflammatory effects that were found to act the same as a low-dose of ibuprofen, but completely nature-based. Hydroxytyrosol, another potent phenolic antioxidant found in EVOO, is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, preventing oxidative stress-induced inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and intestinal inflammation. It does this without the side-effects associated with anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals.

While heat will reduce the total polyphenols, EVOO remains packed with nutritional value even when used for roasting and frying and easily beats refined seed oils in terms of health and flavour.

Higher polyphenol levels actually make olive oils more stable at high temperatures, resisting oxidation better than refined oils, while transferring health-promoting compounds to your food. So, while heat does reduce total polyphenol levels, it doesn’t destroy them entirely, snd there are plenty of good reasons to cook with extra virgin olive oil. Follow our EVOO-packed recipes to easily incorporate olive oil into your meals.

Olive oil is a food, not a supplement: it’s delicious and elevates the flavour and texture of our meals. That being said, taking a spoon of extra virgin olive oil before any other food might just help with steadier energy levels as well as fend off those powerful sugar cravings. Plus, absorption of the nutrients will be higher after the night-long fast our bodies naturally undergo. Given that the recommended daily intake is between 25-50ml however, there’s room to do both: start your day with a teaspoon and save the rest for your meals!