An Israeli friend had surgery to fix up his knee. He massaged the area with olive oil several times a day.
He says the physiotherapist was shocked by the pace of his recovery.
Turns out olive oil contains an anti-inflammatory compound called oleocanthal. You know that slight peppery bite in great extra virgin olive oil? That’s oleocanthal. Oleocanthal is only found in olive oil. It is a natural form of Ibuprofen and has incredible anti-inflammatory benefits. Here’s a study if you want to read more.
Olives from the Valley of Sorek in Israel produce an especially potent olive oil because they are under stress due to the dry conditions. This amazing process is called xenohormesis.
About 2400 years ago the Greek physician Hippocrates called olive oil “the great healer”. Pretty humbling to read modern studies coming to the same conclusion.
