OLIVE OIL - COMPOSITION




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Olive Oil



	What´s the Virgin Olive Oil?
	Origin denominations D.O.
	Olive oil types
	Composition
	Harvesting
	Benefits of the Oil
	Curiosities

COMPOSITION

Olive oil is extracted from the fruit of the olive-tree (Olea Europea). Composition of this fruit in its recollection is variable, depending of the olive variety, soil, climate and the cultivation.

Composition rate of the olive oil:

Oil: 18-32%.
Water from vegetation: 40-55%.
Bone and vegetables tissue: 23-35%.

   The composition of the Virgen Extra olive oil depend of the variety and the grade of the olive:

   Grease or saponifiable fraction (96-98%). This grease is constituted mainly by tryglicendes formed of differing grease acids. Oleic acid is the principal component of these grease acids (70-75%), linoleico (12%) and palmítico (6.5%).

   Unsaponifiable fraction. Terpenes (like b-caroteno or vitamine A), chlorophyll, tocopherols (vitamine E, with a great antioxidant capacity), esterols (like b-sitosterol helps the absortion of cholesterol) and fenolic composites. this unsaponifiable fraction is in the Virgen olive oils, but no in the refined olive oils.

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