New superfood scientists are calling a “super-concentrated health booster”

Depending on what’s cooking, olive oil is preferred to butter by many in the kitchen due to the type of fat it possesses, which is more nutritious and better for your heart health, immune system, blood sugar control and plenty more.

It has now also been discovered that it contains even more healthy properties than was first imagined, with a recent scientific study classifying olive mill wastewater as a ‘superfood’.

What is olive mill wastewater?

Also referred to as OMW, olive mill wastewater is the leftover liquid from pressing olives to make olive oil. That the word ‘waste’ forms part of its name is appropriate, as that is generally what becomes of it…until now, perhaps.

Researchers at Sapienza University in Rome, Italy have identified that the brown, murky liquid, which has a strong, bitter taste, offers a huge number of benefits that even olive oil itself doesn’t.

How is OMW good for your health?

“Studies found that OMW is loaded with polyphenols, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, and though these compounds are also present in olive oil, they’re in much smaller amounts,” explains Pamela Tambini, a physician and medical director at Engage Wellness. “Scientists essentially realized that what was once considered waste could actually be a super-concentrated health booster.”

Polyphenols help the body fight against oxidative stress, which plays a role in conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease, and is also linked to ageing.

Adriana Albini, a cancer researcher at the European Institute of Oncology, conducted a study that found it could also have positive effects on heart health, cholesterol, weight management, blood sugar control, inflammation, cognitive function and digestion.

A ‘superfood’ indeed.

How should olive mill wastewater be consumed?

We’ve established, then, that OMW is incredibly good for your health, but how should we go about consuming it? It hasn’t made it into the mainstream yet, although some small producers do sell it in bottles as a drink.

As mentioned, however, it’s an acquired taste, so it might be worth mixing into a juice or a smoothie, or using it as a salad dressing.

Due to its bioactive compounds and highly concentrated nature, only consume a little at a time to ensure you don’t get a nasty surprise in the form of digestive discomfort.

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