Instead of using new resources to produce oil and flour, we make good use of raw materials that have already been produced.
]]>Approximately 1/3 of the food produced for human consumption globally is lost or wasted! If discarded and wasted food were a country, it would be the third largest greenhouse gas emitter. Food waste alone causes 8% - 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are one of the main causes of climate change!
On average, every Slovenian throws away 68 kg of food per year! This data only takes into account food that has already been processed and placed on store shelves. To this we must also add the loss of food that occurs in the entire production process (at farmers, in the factory and in distribution).
When we waste food, we damage the environment twice. For the production of food, we use resources such as land, water and fuel, which are intended for the production and transport of food. In addition, additional greenhouse gas emissions are created when food ends up in landfill.
The higher up the supply chain food loss occurs, the more carbon intensive the loss and waste. As an example, let's look at the production of tomatoes.
Growing tomatoes requires the resources of land, water and the resources they need for farming. To produce tomato sauce, it is necessary to first grow tomatoes, deliver these tomatoes to the factory where they are processed into sauce, and then deliver the sauce to the store where it is available to the customer. Additional resources are consumed in the processing, packaging, transportation and retailing process. That's why store-bought tomato sauce uses more resources than tomatoes picked directly from the field. Throwing away tomato sauce wastes additional resources that have accumulated along the supply chain.
Food waste is generated along the entire production chain – from the production of basic raw materials to the final consumer. Depending on where the waste is generated, we use different expressions:
The goal of the United Nations is to halve food waste at the end consumer and retailers, and to reduce food loss in supply chains. To this end, the EU countries adopted the "Farm to Fork Strategy", which defined as an important part of the strategy the reduction of food losses and waste, and proposes the establishment of legally binding targets for the reduction of food waste throughout the European Union. What is the contribution of products under the Evioil brand? Have you ever heard of the term "upcycled food production"? In "upcycled" production it is the production of food from the so-called i. food losses that occur during the production of basic foods or in the process of processing basic foods into food products. We produce new, high-quality food products from raw materials that would otherwise become waste, using existing supply chains. These raw materials still contain a rich source of nutrients, which are really a shame to throw away.With high production standards, they produce tasty and healthy food products With such an approach to food production, we solve two problems: Therefore, the products produced in this way have a positive impact on the environment. When we fully use the basic foods that we have produced by consuming different resources, we are building a more sustainable food system and thus a better future for us and for our planet. In Slovenia, 17,500 hectares of land are planted with vines, on which between 84,000 and 90,000 tons of grapes are grown annually. Grapes are mainly used for wine production, and the main by-product of wine production is grape pomace, which represents 15-20% of the weight of the grapes. Grape pomace consists of skin, stalks and pips, with the proportion of grape pomace in pomace being 25%. This means that we have around 4,500 tons of grape pomace available annually, from which we can produce high-quality oil and flour, without using additional resources such as land, water and other resources necessary for farming. The pomace that remains after pressing the grapes is mostly taken to landfills or to biogas plants, a smaller part is used in brandy making or as fertilizer. By throwing away or burning the grapes, they also throw away the grape skins, which contain a lot of vitamins and antioxidants. Above all, they contain an excellent oil consisting of 89% unsaturated fatty acids. Grape seeds are actually a superfood! In our company, we separate the pomace from the pomace and use them to produce high-quality grape pomace oil, which mainly contains unsaturated fatty acids and grape pomace flour, which is rich in fiber. We offer both products under the Evioil brand. We realize how precious the earth's resources are and how important it is to protect the health of our planet. Therefore, we incorporate various elements of the circular economy into our operations and the process of producing products from grape pomace with the aim of reducing the amount of waste and optimizing the efficiency of resource consumption. How do we do it? In products under the Evioil brand, we use the whole grape seed for food purposes, which:
We are committed to a sustainable approach by reducing food waste. By producing grape seed oil and grape seed flour, we want to contribute our part to a healthier planet, which is good for all of us who live on this planet. We believe that with a different approach to food production and the strong will of all producers and consumers, we can create a more sustainable food production system and, as a result, a healthier environment. We invite you to the path of a more sustainable future, which is tasty and healthy and bears the name Evioil!
Cholesterol is absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of the organs. The body needs it to build cells and to produce hormones, vitamin D and substances that help digest food.
Cholesterol is transported along with other substances (triglycerides, apoproteins and phospholipids) in the blood in the form of lipoproteins. Depending on the density of lipoproteins, there are two types of cholesterol:
What is atherosclerosis? Cholesterol circulates in the blood. By increasing the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can begin to be deposited on the walls of the arteries. This process is called atherosclerosis and it causes the arteries to narrow, weaken and become less flexible. Because the arteries are narrowed, this makes it difficult for blood and oxygen to flow through the veins to other organs. If a blood clot gets in one of these narrowed arteries, it can lead to cardiac arrest or stroke.
High LDL cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for chronic heart disease, heart attack and stroke. When combined with other risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stress or smoking, the risk increases.
That is why it is important to maintain optimal levels of both bad LDL and good HDL cholesterol. The unit for measuring fat concentration in the blood is millimoles per liter (mmol/l) and these are the recommended values:
There is a wide range of cholesterol-lowering drugs and preparations on the market. However, you can also lower cholesterol naturally.
A healthy and balanced diet and physical activity are of key importance in cholesterol regulation.
The liver otherwise produces a sufficient amount of cholesterol that our body needs. However, cholesterol is also ingested with food. We know several types of fat and different types of fat have very different effects on health. Therefore, in addition to how much fat we consume, we must also pay attention to what kind of fat we consume.
, they are also abundant in some plant foods, such as palm, coconut and cocoa butter. That is why it is important to check the fat content of products and prefer products that contain more unsaturated fatty acids.
Unsaturated fatty acids are divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated (these are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids). Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential fatty acids are very important, which include e.g. linoleic acid.They have an excellent property - due to their composition, they lower bad LDL cholesterol and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Since the body cannot produce essential fatty acids on its own, we must consume them with food. Omega-3 fatty acids are mainly rich in marine fish, while omega-6 fatty acids are mainly rich in vegetable oils (sunflower, corn, soybean, walnut, pumpkin, hemp, cotton and grape seed oil). Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids should represent 7-10% of energy intake daily in the diet.
So how can you lower cholesterol naturally?
Sometimes it's hard to change habits, but it's true: where there's a will, there's a way!
.]]>How did you come up with the idea and how long did it take from idea to practice?
We have wanted to start oil production for some time. First, the idea was to plant pumpkins and produce pumpkin oil. While researching the market, my wife and I found an article about grapeseed oil. We were impressed by the wide range of usability and many positive features, and even more so by the fact that you can practically obtain it from the remains of another activity. Since there is a lot of grape pomace in the area as a byproduct of pressing grapes, we decided to give it a try. Of course, the road to realization was long, as we had to figure out how to separate the seeds from the pomace as efficiently as possible. When my wife and I were at an oil tasting at an oil mill, the owner said that he had a separating machine that he no longer used. And so it began.
Where do you get the raw material from?
Grape pomace is obtained from the largest winery Jeruzalem Ormož and from the surrounding winemakers.
Grape pomace, which grape varieties are the most suitable for pressing oil?
All grape varieties are suitable for oil production. The difference is in how the individual varieties are profitable, and here the dark grape varieties are at an advantage.
What is the process of preparing oil pressing ovens?
These are large quantities of input raw material (pomace), from which it is necessary to separate the pulp. We do this through a seeding process. Then the ovens are washed and dried. We press them in one of the oil mills, which has a suitable hydraulic press for this purpose. It is a very powerful device, because the ovens are very hard and it takes a lot of energy to get the oil out of them. After pressing the oil, briquettes remain, which are ground into flour, which also has many positive properties and is primarily used in human nutrition. Even the defatted flour, which we also sell, is rich in antioxidants and contains a lot of fiber, which has a beneficial effect on digestion. Crushed, i.e. ground briquettes can also be used as an additive in animal feed. Grinding pomace requires a millstone. Tropinovka brandy can be made from the sifted pomace, which no longer contains the pulp, and it can also be used as fertilizer.
For example, how much oil do grape pomace contain?
Grape oil contains 8-20% oil. How much we manage to squeeze out depends on the compression method. We decided to use cold pressing, in which we get less oil in quantity, but it is a completely natural method. Another method is solvent extraction. We need an average of 13 kilograms of dry seeds for one liter of oil. The amount varies depending on the grape variety.
What would you highlight as a key advantage of your oil?
Because the temperature during the cold pressing of the grape seeds in the oil does not exceed 40 °C, all important substances are preserved in it. That's why we get completely natural, 100% grape seed oil. In doing so, we follow sustainable production, as we make full use of the given raw material; winemakers make wine from grape juice, we make oil from grape skins. As I already mentioned, the briquettes are ground into flour, the rest is used for animal feed and fertilizer during the separation of the briquettes. We strive to produce according to the principle of zero waste.
What kind of packaging do you sell it in and how have customers received it?
Oil is sold in dark bottles of 100, 250 and 500 milliliters. It is always better for oil to be in a dark and smaller bottle, as it stays fresher for longer. We also sell it in larger packages, namely to customers who use the oil as a raw material in cosmetic products. It was well received by customers. They like the taste and its properties.
You probably squeeze the oil burners as needed. How long is the shelf life of the oil, storage,...?
We press the oil in smaller quantities so that we can offer our customers as fresh as possible. The useful life of the oil is a minimum of 18 months. If it is stored properly, is not exposed to high temperatures and is in a dark place, it lasts much longer.
Where all or how is the sale done?
Sale takes place in two wine shops, in a shop with local produce and casually at the market. We are currently present every weekend at the market in Moravske Toplice. Since April this year, we also have an online store www.evioil.com.
What else would you like to add at the end?
I am pleased that we were able to participate in the market in Moravske Toplice this year, as personal contact with customers is a very welcome experience. As a manufacturer, you are grateful for any feedback. As already mentioned, we still have many plans and we hope that we will be able to implement them in the set time and offer something new at the market in Moravske Toplice next year.
You can read more about Evioil grape seed oil and flour in our online store www.evioil.com. For those who do not have an online medium, let me point out that grape seed oil contains a high proportion of unsaturated, especially omega 6 fatty acids, which the body cannot produce on its own. It is also high in vitamin E. The oil has many positive health effects. I eat it to have a pleasant delicate taste and aroma and it is used in cooking. It is also widely used in cosmetics for skin and hair care.
Geza Grabar
Lipnica no. 177, September 2021 | Municipality of Moravske Toplice (moravske-toplice.si)
.]]>Grape seed oil is rich in phytosterols and tocotrienols. Phytosterols are structurally similar to cholesterol, so they can displace them. Tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E that acts as an antioxidant. A teaspoon of grape seed oil contains 9 mg of vitamin E.
Flavonoids are also present in grape seed oil. These are the substances that give fruits and vegetables their color and are powerful antioxidants. We also need to consume flavonoids with food. They help preserve memory and other cognitive abilities.
]]>Cold-pressed grape seed oil is rich in phytosterols, which are the best-known sterols in plant tissues. They are found in grains, fruits, vegetables and vegetable fats. Because they are similar in structure to cholesterol, they can compete with them and displace cholesterol during absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to a decrease in blood plasma cholesterol. Phytosterols are thus associated with prevention of cardiovascular diseases (Modic and Kreft, 2001).
Flavonoids are also present in grape seed oil. Flavonoids are a form of polyphenols found in food of plant origin. They are the substances that give fruits and vegetables their color and are strong antioxidants. We also need to consume flavonoids with food, as the body cannot produce them on its own. Eating food with a high content of flavonoids reduces the occurrence of many diseases caused by oxidative stress (Vrhovšek, 2001). They help preserve memory and other cognitive abilities.
The next important elements in grape seed oil are tocopherols and tocotrienols, which are a form of vitamin E. The content of vitamin E in grape seed oil is high and ranges from 60 - 120 mg/ 100 g. In other words, a teaspoon of cold-pressed grapeseed oil contains 9 mg of vitamin E. Due to such a high content of vitamin E, grape seed oil is also one of the most stable oils (Lugue-Rodriguez et al., 2005).
In addition to vitamin E, it contains cold-pressed grape seed oil and vitamins A and C. These elements act as antioxidants, which means that they bind free radicals in the body and thus inhibit oxidation processes. If there are too many free radicals in our body, they trigger many unwanted chemical reactions due to their reactivity and thus damage cells. Eating food rich in antioxidants is said to inhibit the aging of the body and the onset of diseases such as cancer, heart attack, diabetes and arthritis.
]]>The pulp is immediately separated from the pomace, dried and cleaned of impurities.
Cold-press the cookies prepared in this way. The cold pressing process is a mechanical process where the oil is squeezed out of the oven using force. When pressing, we do not use any chemical substances which are otherwise used in the process of chemical extraction of edible oils in larger production facilities.
We also pay attention to the temperature during the pressing process. Since the temperature during pressing does not exceed 40 °C, the oil retains all important substances.
After pressing, the oil is not completely clean, so it needs to be cleaned. We do not filter the oil, but wait for it to be purified in a natural way by sedimentation. We get completely natural 100% cold pressed grape seed oil.
The grape vine is one of the hardest vines. A flat hard shell protects the interior of the oven from harmful external influences (e.g. sprays). Therefore no harmful chemical substances are present in the oil.
Since the grapes are quite small, 1 liter of cold pressed grape seed oil requires 8 - 12 kg of dry grape seeds. How much oil can be extracted depends mainly on the grape variety.
We press the oil on the fly in smaller quantities so that we can offer you the freshest possible cold-pressed grape seed oil.
In all procedures, we follow the principles of good hygiene practice and HACCP guidelines, and thus follow high standards in food production. We put food safety first.
Since, in addition to high quality, the appearance of the product is also important to us, we pour the oil into a pretty bottle, which we decorate with a beautiful vine illustration. Under the product, we sign Evioil.
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