The Golden Elixir of Thriving Ageing — It's At Your Fingertips

Meet the essential pantry staple that unlocks vibrant longevity and vitality

I’m back to my roots, after almost 20 years heading up food magazines, here comes one of my all-time favourite foods.

It’s probably the ONE food I would never be without, the one I pack whenever I travel, and whenever I picnic. The one I sneakily chug straight out of the bottle (without letting my lips hit the side, mind you).

As you'll soon see, it's the ultimate kitchen whizz: that endlessly adaptable multitasker and true workhorse, from pantry to table.

Oh, and it just also happens to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

If it didn't exist we'd barely believe anything like it could exist.

So settle in, perhaps with a crusty loaf and a small pool of liquid gold for dipping – the perfect company for discovering why this humble food might just be our most powerful ally on this exciting ageing journey we’re all on round here.

Can you tell I’m excited?

Inspired by recipe cards, I’ve made some little round-edged at-a-glance cards for you. Let me know what you think. I’d love to do more if you find them useful, or just a bit of fun. ◡̈

Extra virgin olive oil stands out as a cornerstone of what may be the healthiest way of eating ever studied.
– Dr Walter Willett, Harvard School of Public Health

The nutrition study that caused shockwaves.

The year was 2013. A large Spanish study of 7500 participants was already well into its six-year duration when it was suddenly halted. Why? Because the researchers deemed it unethical to continue. Lives were at stake, and centre stage: extra virgin olive oil.

Here was the problem

The participants, of what was called the PREDIMED study, had been divided into three groups.

• The first group received extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to consume at least 4 tablespoons daily

• The second group received mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts) to consume about a handful daily

• The third group (the control group) were instructed to follow a low-fat diet—no nuts or olive oil

Just 4½ years into the study, the results were striking, and even alarming

The participants in the extra virgin olive oil group were thriving. They’d experienced far fewer strokes, heart attacks, and fewer deaths as well – an extraordinary 33% less than the control group.

All the more urgent: all 7500 subjects in the study were already vulnerable. In fact, they’d been chosen on the basis of having at least three serious risk factors (such as type 2 diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension). These were people at the cliff edge of serious health outcomes. The ethics were there in black and white: extra virgin olive oil couldn't be withheld from the control group any longer.

The study not only became famous for being cancelled. It also became the cornerstone evidence for the powerful health benefits of extra virgin olive oil.

Study after study confirms EVOO’s benefits

In the wake of the PREDIMED study, the evidence in favour of EVOO has expanded.

So much so, that some experts have gone as far as to suggest EVOO may be the foundation of the Mediterranean diet's status — a diet which the World Health Organisation recognises as among the world's healthiest.

The golden elixir of thriving ageing

For those of us 50+ who follow the science of ageing, the news gets even better. EVOO offers rafts of benefits: reducing inflammation (the root cause of many age-related conditions), protecting brain health, supporting heart function, and even helping to maintain healthy skin elasticity.

Let's not forget brain health. The PREDIMED olive oil group, on average, also saw cognitive function improve over time, while the low-fat group saw typical age-related decline.

Why is EVOO so powerful?

All these benefits largely come down to EVOO's polyphenols and healthy fats which act as defenders against inflammation and oxidative damage — both major drivers of aging.

The research is crystal clear - adding EVOO to your daily menu is one of the most powerful food choices you can make for living longer and staying healthier while you do it.

Your daily must-visit destination

In short, for anyone wanting to grow younger as they grow gloriously older, EVOO is one of the all-time must-visit daily "destinations".

There’s just two important caveats.

1. Beware of wrong turns.
   Not all olive oils are created equal—it's the extra virgin olive oil signpost you're looking for. No other olive oil compares. Unlike regular olive oil, EVOO is cold-pressed without chemicals or excessive heat, preserving its powerful yet delicate compounds.

2. Freshness is crucial.
   The beneficial properties diminish with age and exposure to light, heat, or air. Local is best, if available. And use your nose – don’t consume if it smells rancid.

Olive oil is a unique food... it contains proportionally large amounts of compounds with strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can positively impact cellular aging and promote longevity.
— Dr. Simin Nikbin Meydani, Director of the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory, Tufts University

Let's Go EVOO!

THE ESSENTIAL EVOO TRAVEL GUIDE

Inspired by recipe cards and travel books, I’ve created two at-a-glance guides for you. If you’re reading on your phone, just use your fingers to zoom in. ◡̈

EVOO & The Joyspan Compass

First, a little background. Regular readers will be familiar with the Joyspan Compass that sits at the heart of our Road Trip to Younger. Every road trip needs a compass and this was the first thing I built.

My mission was to chart the vital paths that lead women over 50, not just to a long life, but to the most pleasurable, enjoyable and thriving health span possible.

To do this, with my journalist hat on, I undertook a months-long investigation into the consensus among leading longevity experts, particularly those focused on what matters most for women. The eight key principles became the eight points of the compass, representing the rock-solid foundations for healthy aging, especially for women 50 and over.

The Joyspan Compass drives everything we do here. Its greatest value is as a reality check on what's worthy of our time, energy and attention — and what's not!

As you can see from our whistle-stop tour around the compass below, extra virgin olive oil is truly extraordinary — guiding us in seven of the eight key directions toward a long, healthy, thriving life. The number of checkmarks reveals just how turbo-charged EVOO is in propelling us along the right path.

What’s really great to see is the benefits for mental harmony and even sleep enhancement. There’s some joyful resilience right there!

And all for just 2-4 tablespoons of EVOO a day!

EVOO: A user’s guide

Here’s where the real fun starts — in the kitchen! Of course I couldn’t resist rattling a few pans.

The guide below is just a starting point for your EVOO kitchen adventures. What I haven’t mentioned, but what I fully approve of, is using EVOO in cakes and baking generally, including brownies. Weigh up the expense, but the result can be amazingly moist and tender textures.

Could the road to super healthy be more delicious?

And yes, you CAN use EVOO for all your cooking

Some say EVOO isn't suitable for frying because they believe its smoke point (the temperature at which it starts to degrade) is too low. Not true.,

Ther latest Research says good quality EVOO actually has a higher smoke point than commonly thought and remains stable at typical home kitchen cooking temperatures.

A few shots from my album. My dear friend Vanessa took me on a tour of some of the world’s most sustainable olive groves in Victoria, southern Australia. It was harvest time and the trees were dripping with fruit.

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Coming up!

Get ready for May — it’s Bust a Move Month!

Get ready for action! I’ll be sharing all my favourite moves from walking to rucking, dumb bells to pilates, yoga to skipping and a guide to getting into the weight room. I’d love you to join me in trying some new ways to get active.

We’re building lean muscle. We’re building our bones. We’re getting sweaty, at our own pace, and loving it. ◡̈

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Finally, do you have a favourite way to use EVOO?

Or are you starting out and looking for tried and trusted recipes? Either way, let us know below! Maybe we can swap favourite dishes, bakes and tricks.

Happy cooking, making, drizzling, dipping and baking — and THRIVING — with EVOO!

Much love,
Brodee xox