Healthy and Tasty Eating with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The history of olive oil is closely linked to that of civilization. Olive trees were already cultivated and its fruits pressed to extract their precious liquid 5,000 years ago in the Mediterranean. For the ancient cultures that inhabited what the Romans called the mare nostrum, olive oil was a liquid gold. Not only the people who produced it were in some cases particularly handpicked by dignitaries, but the anointment of kings was conducted with this precious liquid. This appreciation prompted its use as a symbol of peace and purification.

While the particular appreciation and positive allegorical meanings that were given to olive oil by the ancients might seem a little capricious to us, modern science shows that it was greatly justified. Resent research conducted in European universities shows that the liquid gold of the ancients is at the heart of a healthy diet. The studies indicate that olive oil contains antioxidants and monounsaturated fat that helps increases the HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood, thus reducing blood pressure and chances for heart disease. Furthermore, studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and The British Journal of Nutrition not only show that olive oil ensures better control of glucose in the blood, but also helps reduce the dangers of breast and colon cancer while possessing fat burning effects.

For these reasons, olive oil is currently described as one of the most health-promoting types of oil and the best oil for heart health. Thus, it's not surprising to find that in regions where olive oil is the main oil used, there are lower rates of atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease and even asthma.

However, it's not just the fabulous symbolism attached to it throughout the centuries nor the amount of modern scientific data showing its beneficial effects that should convince us about its prime place on our own tables. Extra virgin olive oil has been chosen as an important ingredient in the culinary art of different cultures for at least 5,000 years because of its taste and fragrance. Olive oil is a staple in the Mediterranean Diet, which has become increasingly popular in the United States since the 1990s due to its health benefits and rich, full-flavored foods. This nutritional model is inspired by the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean basin, particularly Southern Italy, Greece, Portugal, Turkey and Spain. Thus, it's no secret that we too can eat healthy and pleasurably with the use of olive oil.


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