Olive oil triggers same anti-inflammatory response as Ibuprofen

[snagglepuss]

snip

ScienceDaily (Jan. 18, 2011) — Scientists from the Monell Center and collaborators report that a receptor known as TRPA1 is activated by two structurally unrelated anti-inflammatory compounds. The first, oleocanthal, is a natural polyphenolic anti-inflammatory agent uniquely found in extra virgin olive oil; while the second, ibuprofen, is an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

The researchers also demonstrate that the TRPA1 receptor is spatially localized to the back of the throat, which is exactly where the distinctive irritating sting from olive oil is felt. This unique sensation and the accompanying 'cough' are regarded among connoisseurs as indicators of high quality olive oil.

"We believe that the TRPA1 receptor elicits cough to protect the lungs from chemical insult, for example from toxins in the air," said Paul A.S. Breslin, Ph.D., one of the corresponding authors and a sensory biologist at Monell.

In 2005, Monell researchers and collaborators announced the discovery that oleocanthal is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, a pharmacological action shared by ibuprofen.







http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110118180514.htm

[grasswire]

1. I must not have had good enough olive oil to get the sting.

I don't recall it ever happening. Nor do I get a sting from ibuprofen. Weird.

[cliffordu]

2. Mebbe they made Olive Oil vodka.

:shrug:

[snagglepuss]

3. lol maybe it's the oil that Greeks keep for themselves.

[Sherman A1]

4. Thanks for Posting

While I don't necessarily understand it all, looks to be interesting.

[snagglepuss]

8. I think the bottomline is that using Extra Virgin Olive Oil has tremendous

health benefits. Although it plays an important in maintaining health, our body's inflammatory response is the cause of a lot of ills.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. This product is not intended to diagnose, mitigate, minimize, lessen, avert,

or treat any disease. If you are caught treating any disease with this product you will be summarily rounded up by the FDA who after all support the premise that only Fatal Drugs are Allowed to diagnose, minimize or treat any disease.

[trotsky]

6. So are we to understand, then, that you take absolutely NO product approved by the FDA?

No OTC or prescription medications whatsoever? None?

[BuddhaGirl]

9. ROFL!

:thumbsup:

[ehrnst]

7. Damn that scientific research - just trying to throw a wrench in the free market! (nt)

[Codeine]

10. Sting?

I eat ridiculous amounts of olive oil and I've never felt a sting? Am I missing something? :shrug:

[xchrom]

13. fairly fresh squeezed olive oil will have something like a peppery quality to it

in the back of the throat.

the olive oil we use most of the time is far from that initial pressing.

[Tumbulu]

14. each variety of olive has a different taste profile in the oil

and if the fruit is picked green or black also effects the flavor. The oil must be pressed within 24 hrs of being picked or the most fragile flavors degrade. Since in the US the market seems to desire buttery flavored oils, you have to search for these green, peppery ones.

High quality olive oil is a very big deal and there are all these tasting classes offered through the UC Extension. I took such a class through them in the late 90's and also in Italy at an organic conference. There is much more to olive oil than meets the eye. Good olive oil is as expensive as good wine, mainly because of the fragility of the most important compounds and of course the some of the best tasting oils come from the trees with the lowest yields.

[mzmolly]

11. Here is an interesting "Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid" from Dr. Weil.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02995/Dr-Weil-Anti-Inflammatory-Food-Pyramid.html

Good info, thanks!

[MrMickeysMom]

12. Man, I learned something about olive oil today...

... I've had and have made some infusions with EVOO, and I've tasted lots of different OO's (I swear, people in the know, think it's as refined as wine tasting).

That Mediterranean diet (that includes as much as 40 of their fat from OO) has always been associated as one of the healthiest.