Most people think High Phenolic EVOO is all about chasing the biggest number, but the truth is that nature works in ranges—and those ranges matter far more than a single score.
When you understand the difference between a functional band and a potency peak, the whole world of phenolics becomes much clearer — and far less overwhelming.
When people first discover High Phenolic (HP) Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), they often ask the same questions:
“How high is high?”
“Why do numbers vary from year to year?”
“Does it matter for microdosing?”
The short answer is: yes, the ranges matter — but not in the way people think.
High Phenolic EVOO isn’t a synthetic supplement with fixed potency.
It’s a living, seasonal expression of nature. And within that natural variation lies its intelligence, its power, and its therapeutic potential.
This article explains why 250 mg/kg is the scientific baseline, why ~500 mg/kg marks the functional entry point, and why A+ oils — typically 1200–1500+ mg/kg — offer ideal precision for microdosing.
1. The EU Health Claim: Where It All Begins
The scientific foundation for HP EVOO is the EU Health Claim, which requires:
- 250 mg/kg of hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives (from the oleuropein complex)
- 20 grams daily
- Benefits are dose-dependent (more phenolics → more protection)
This claim has become the anchor for a wide and growing field of research.
At this baseline intake, studies have explored phenolic activity in:
- neurodegenerative diseases
- autoimmune disorders
- cardiovascular health
- metabolic regulation
- chronic inflammation
- several cancers
The EU claim is modest in wording, but profound in implication.
It opened the door to understanding HP EVOO not just as food — but as a functional wellness oil.
And yet, the claim contains a quirk…
2. Why the Claim’s Wording Is Confusing (and Why It Isn’t Your Fault)
The final EU Health Claim wasn’t written by chemists.
It was written by epidemiologists — and it shows.
Terms like “hydroxytyrosol and its derivatives” were used as simplifications, not chemical definitions.
This led to decades of confusion between:
- “hydroxytyrosol”
- “polyphenols”
- “total phenolic content”
- “secoiridoid derivatives”
Most consumers — and many producers — still use polyphenols as a shorthand.
But it’s not scientifically accurate.
The term polyphenols is used because it’s familiar.
But the science behind A+ is far more specific — and much more interesting.
The active molecules in HP EVOO are not generic polyphenols like those found in berries or tea.
These highly bioactive secoiridoid derivatives — including oleocanthal and oleacein — are unique to olive oil. No other food or botanical oil contains them.
They are secoiridoid derivatives originating from the oleuropein complex — highly bioactive compounds such as:
- oleocanthal
- oleacein
- hydroxytyrosol derivatives
- tyrosol derivatives
These are the molecules that actually drive the EU claim and the potency behind HP EVOO.
This chemical uniqueness is part of why HP EVOO occupies a category of its own in the wellness world.
NOTE: It’s worth noting here that in fresh High Phenolic (HP) EVOO, hydroxytyrosol is normally present only in very small amounts (as shown on NMR analysis).
Most of it exists in bound, more complex forms — the secoiridoid derivatives from the oleuropein complex (such as oleacein and oleocanthal).
If an EVOO shows unusually high free hydroxytyrosol, it is generally a sign that the oil is breaking down, because hydroxytyrosol increases as the more complex phenolic molecules degrade over time.”
Some producers highlight high hydroxytyrosol numbers to align with the wording of the EU Health Claim.
However, the claim itself refers to hydroxytyrosol AND its derivatives, meaning the bound phenolics — the very compounds that distinguish fresh HP EVOO — are the primary contributors.
3. The Functional Wellness Band Begins at ~500+ mg/kg
While 250 mg/kg is the scientific minimum, the functional band begins around 500 mg/kg.
Why?
Because at this level:
- The oil remains above the health-claim threshold even in cooking
- Heat loss of up to 40% still leaves the oil above 250 mg/kg
- You can use it both culinarily and therapeutically
- Smaller daily servings begin to have measurable impact
So the ranges look like this:
< 500 mg/kg — Culinary with benefits
Beautiful, nutritious EVOO.
Antioxidant-rich.
More volume required for targeted outcomes.
500–1200 mg/kg — Functional EVOO
Supports wellness goals.
Culinary + microdosing overlap.
Retains potency even after cooking.
1200–1500+ mg/kg — Precision HP EVOO (A+ territory)
Highly concentrated.
Ideal for microdosing (5 ml).
Easier consistency and compliance.
This is the range where A+ lives most years.
Nature shapes the exact number.
A+ preserves it.
4. Why Concentration Matters for MicroDosing
Phenolic compounds from HP EVOO have well-studied absorption characteristics:
- They reach peak plasma levels within 1–2 hours
- Their half-life is short
- They act in rhythmic, cumulative cycles
- Smaller, consistent intakes maintain a steadier phenolic presence
This means microdosing isn’t just convenient — it’s aligned with the body’s natural metabolic rhythm.
A+ MicroDosing (5 ml daily) works because:
- The oils are highly concentrated
- You get meaningful phenolic intake from small volumes
- It’s easier to stay consistent
- Your body uses phenolics best when delivered in small, regular amounts
- You can always adjust upward, guided by your health professional
It’s wellness through elegance, not excess.
5. Why Numbers Vary: Nature’s Intelligence at Work
Phenolic concentration shifts slightly year to year due to:
- cultivar and genetics
- rainfall and stress
- temperature
- harvest timing
- milling decisions (temperature, oxygen control, time)
- storage conditions
These variations are natural — and predictable within a range.
A+ oils consistently land between 1200–1500+ mg/kg, but the integrity lies in letting nature lead, not forcing uniform numbers.
You receive the best expression of each harvest, bottled in violet biophotonic violet glass, stored cool (< 59°F), and protected until the moment it reaches you.
6. What This Means for A+ Customers
- You always see transparent laboratory results.
- You always know the phenolic concentration before opening your bottle.
- You can microdose with confidence because the range is consistent.
- You can cook with A+ oils and remain within the health-claim threshold.
- You can personalize your intake — many people do — always with the support of their healthcare provider.
After all:
People are in charge of their own wellness journey.
A+ simply provides the highest-quality tools to support it.
7. The Takeaway
High Phenolic EVOO is not about a single number.
It’s about:
- starting above the EU’s proven threshold
- understanding nature’s intelligent range
- honouring the specific compounds that make the oil potent
- supporting your body through consistent, elegant daily intake
A+ MicroDosing exists because small, concentrated, daily doses work —
and because allowing nature to vary within her own wisdom creates the most authentic and trustworthy wellness oil you can use.