Extra Virgin Olive Oil is delicious with any meal. At breakfast, it is ideal for starting the day with energy and vitality.
As is well known, breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, if not the most important, and it is essential to consume foods rich in nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to face the day with the necessary energy for daily tasks. If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, you should start by changing your breakfast habits.
Including Extra Virgin Olive Oil in your first meal of the day provides healthy fats such as oleic acid, adds carbohydrates without saturated fats, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, minerals like potassium, zinc, magnesium, or iron, helps prevent digestive discomfort and acidity, promotes intestinal transit, and, thanks to polyphenols, boosts endorphins acting as a natural stimulant and antidepressant. Its properties are maximized when consumed raw, acting as an effective protector of cardiovascular health.
Bread and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a Perfect Match
Although Extra Virgin Olive Oil allows for a wide range of breakfast combinations, bread remains one of its most faithful companions. Preferably, opt for whole-grain bread or breads made with cereals such as oats or rye, avoiding industrial pastries or buttered toast.
Nutritionists recommend consuming three tablespoons daily, more than enough for a healthy breakfast. It is especially interesting to have Extra Virgin Olive Oil from various varieties, allowing you to enjoy different flavors on your toast each day depending on the chosen variety.
Breakfasts with EVOO
Here are some examples of healthy and natural combinations with Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil and bread, resulting in nutrient-rich and delicious breakfasts.
Toast with oil: Simply spread high-quality EVOO on good bread. For this, varieties with intense flavor, such as Picual, are recommended.
Toast with oil and tomato: Another classic. Just add ripe tomatoes, either grated or sliced, to your toast.
Toast with oil and ham: Use a good rustic bread, add your favorite EVOO, and a slice of Serrano ham for protein. This traditional Spanish breakfast guarantees a perfect flavor pairing. No additional salt is needed as the ham provides enough seasoning.
Toast with garlic and oil: Two options exist: infuse a couple of garlic cloves in the oil bottle or rub raw garlic directly on the toasted bread.
Other possibilities include adding jams, honey, maple syrup, or different types of cheese, either fresh or aged.
The Olive Worker’s Breakfast
Also known as the "molinero," this traditional breakfast of Andalusian olive workers includes bread topped with oil and tomato, complemented with ingredients such as cod, homemade olives, garlic, oranges, Serrano ham, cheese, fried eggs, and the essential coffee with milk.
This hearty breakfast is perfect to start a demanding workday, while remaining healthy and nutritious. Its base is Extra Virgin Olive Oil and it features products of the Mediterranean diet, recognized by UNESCO in 2010 as Intangible Cultural Heritage, which states that “the main ingredients of this diet are Extra Virgin Olive Oil, cereals, fruits and their natural jams, fresh or dried vegetables, a moderate proportion of meat, fish, and dairy products, and abundant local nuts and spices.”
Extra Virgin Olive Oil on an Empty Stomach?
Taking a tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on an empty stomach is an ancient practice, often supported by science. It can help prevent various diseases, combat cellular oxidation, provide antibacterial benefits, boost the immune system, detoxify the body, stimulate the gallbladder aiding the expulsion of gallstones, improve digestion, and protect cell membranes and DNA from free radicals.
Consuming olive oil on an empty stomach, as long as it is Extra Virgin Olive Oil, helps cleanse the liver and pancreas, aiding fat digestion and overall detoxification. It provides healthy fats essential for proper nervous system function and neurotransmitter synthesis, supporting a positive mood.
This practice is also believed to aid weight loss, as EVOO prevents fluid retention and delays gastric emptying, keeping hunger at bay. A tablespoon contains only about 40 calories, making it compatible with low-calorie diets and helping reduce abdominal fat, which is directly linked to cardiovascular risk.
