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Fortified olive oil. For children (but not only)

by Maria Carla Squeo

It is called Naturino, and is produced in Bitonto, in Puglia, by Agridè. It is targeted not only at children, but also at pregnant women, with the aim of contributing to a balanced diet. Enriched with vitamins A, D, E and B6, it is also beneficial for adults in general, and especially for the elderly, providing extra benefits alongside the already unique, special properties of extra-virgin olive oil

Agridè’s commitment to healthy eating has led to the creation of this oil designed mainly with children in mind, but which is also ideal for the elderly, and for pregnant or breastfeeding women, both groups with specific, significant nutritional needs.

What is special about Naturino? We asked Dora Desantis, Agridè’s quality control manager, who gave us a detailed answer: “What makes it special is that it comes from the pressing of olives grown in fields not treated with synthetic chemicals. Moreover, our cold extraction process uses olives from a traceable, certified supply chain, with the addition of vitamins, resulting in an oil that is a complete functional food in itself, able to contribute to our body’s greater well-being.

Vitamin E, with its antioxidant function, contributes to tissue protection; Vitamin B6 is important for the nervous system; Vitamin A aids vision; and Vitamin D helps keep our bones and teeth in good condition”.

An oil that leaves nothing to chance, then. “That’s right”, Dora Desantis pointed out, “and let’s not forget that paediatricians recommend using extra-virgin olive oil for children in the weaning phase, precisely because it is highly digestible, and also because this unique oil has a composition similar to mother’s milk.”

As for the packaging, partly due to its appearance, with its own box, and partly due to the fact that the oil has been enriched with vitamins, Naturino is invariably seen as a product intended above all for sale in pharmacies, where it can indeed be found. Nevertheless, paradoxically, extra-virgin olive oil is not readily available at the chemist’s, although it should be, considering how beneficial this food is for our health. It is no coincidence that Naturino is provided with “instructions for use”: add 2-3 tablespoons (30 ml) raw to flavour baby food, soups and other preparations; the oil is to be taken as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.