Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Back on May 10th I blogged about Popeye's favorite food - Spinanch. Today, it's only fitting to include an article about his romantic interest... Olive Oil. This story goes back to ancient Greece (grease?!).

In ancient Greece, Hippocrates, the father of Medicine, called it “the great therapeutic". Homer called it "liquid gold” and ancient Greek athletes ritually rubbed it all over their bodies. The health benefits of Olive Oil that had been known and applied for centuries in ancient Greece are now being rediscovered by modern day researchers.

Olive oil was recognized for its importantance in maintaining metabolism and is now also known for contributing to the development of the brain and bones in children. On top of it, olive oil benefits are being recommended as a n excellent source of vitamin E for our aging populants, especially those with high cholesterol.

A study published in the March 2004 issue of Medical Science Monitor reported that 2 tablespoons a day of olive oil added to an otherwise unchanged diet in 28 outpatients, ranging in age from 64 to 71, resulted in significant drops in total and LDL cholesterol

A natural anti-oxidant, olive oil slows down the natural aging process. It also slows down acid overproduction in the digestive system thereby reducing the risk for ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.

There is also a low incidence of skin cancer among Mediterranean populations, and olive oil consumption could be a contributing factor to this low skin cancer rate.

Published studies link the judicious use of olive oil to reducing the effect of a growing list of ailments. For example, Greek women have a 42% lower rate of breast cancer than women in the U.S.

Olive oil contains significantly higher amounts of Squalene than other seed oils, and Squalene is to a large extent transferred to the skin. German researchers believe that this transfer mechanism is probably accomplished by scavenging singlet oxygen generated by ultraviolet light. Japanese scientists also claim that virgin olive oil applied to the skin after sunbathing could protect against skin cancer by slowing tumor growth.

Hook up with Health and Wholefood Farmacy’s Heart of Gold made from Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Walnut Oil, Avocado Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Orange Oil, & 24 Carat Medicinal Gold. Use Heart of Gold to make your own salad dressings, pour it on raw or steamed, or use it as aymmy dip for whole grain breads.

With your health and wellness in mind.

Hook up with Health at www.hookupwithhealth.wholefoodfarmacy.com