In our blog, we have frequently highlighted the health benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a star product of the Mediterranean Diet. Today, we focus on its virtues in child nutrition, from pregnancy through adolescence.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a delicious food that also protects our health, and specialists recommend its consumption as an essential part of the diet for people of all ages, including children. Conditions such as atherosclerosis, which manifest in adulthood, originate in the early years of life, making it essential to instill healthy habits in children as early as possible.
Benefits of EVOO Consumption During Pregnancy and Lactation
The Mediterranean diet, rich in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, during pregnancy helps improve children’s health in their early years, according to findings published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Medicine based on the study conducted at Hospital San Carlos in Madrid on the prevention of gestational diabetes.
This research points to lower hospital admissions during the first two years of life for children whose mothers included EVOO in their diet during pregnancy.
According to Dr. Alfonso Calle, coordinator of the study, this is the first controlled study analyzing the influence of nutritional intervention during pregnancy on the health of offspring, as previous research had rarely studied the effects of the Mediterranean diet on the development of metabolic and immune diseases in children, including bronchiolitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and food allergies.
This is because, according to the study, changes in the mother’s immune system during pregnancy affect normal intestinal function and microbiota composition. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, rich in phenolic compounds, is associated with better anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory profiles.
The San Carlos Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study previously showed that a healthy diet rich in EVOO reduces the risk of developing gestational diabetes by 30% and improves newborn health.
During pregnancy, the mother’s body requires a significant intake of vitamins, which is only possible with a healthy diet including EVOO, providing essential vitamins that aid fetal development while benefiting maternal health. The recommended consumption for adults is 4–5 tablespoons daily, always under medical supervision.
During lactation, newborns need protection from the new environmental challenges they face after leaving the mother’s womb. A natural way to support this is through breast milk, which depends on the mother’s careful diet. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is highly recommended due to its richness in vitamin E, a major source of antioxidants that also helps regulate cholesterol levels in both mother and baby. It also contains vitamins A, D, and K, essential for children’s growth and intellectual development.
Consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil During Childhood
The benefits of EVOO for children begin even before birth, as maternal consumption supports fetal development and vitamin E intake protects children from asthma and certain allergies. EVOO remains healthy throughout childhood, promoting growth and development, providing essential energy, fatty acids, and “good” cholesterol needed for cell membranes and nervous system tissue formation.
Childhood is a critical stage for developing lifelong healthy habits, supplying energy for well-being, and preventing future diseases. In fact, the benefits of EVOO during childhood are as significant, if not more, than in later stages of life, making it crucial for physical and intellectual development.
Regarding bone development, EVOO’s high oleic acid content enhances calcium absorption, supporting proper bone calcification and growth.
Its low acidity aids digestion, improving intestinal transit, ensuring children rest well, and promoting longer sleep.
Daily recommended intake varies by age, but generally accounts for about 30% of total calories, equivalent to 2–3 tablespoons divided across meals.
These benefits are confirmed by leading researchers worldwide in the so-called Jaén Declaration, approved at the “II International Congress on Olive Oil and Health.”
The Jaén Declaration emphasizes consuming EVOO from childhood to prevent future diseases and highlights the Mediterranean diet as the healthiest diet globally.
Finally, despite all evidence, children’s nutrition must always be supervised by pediatricians, who determine the most appropriate diet and the amounts of macro- and micronutrients, including healthy fats, that children should consume.
