Oh
Marvelous Mediterranean
by Nathan Johnson
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Olive
oil has been a Mediterranean staple for thousands of years.
The olive itself was first introduced to the shores of the Mediterranean
basin over 5,000 years ago. For the peoples who inhabit the
shores of the ancient sea, the olive's divine nectar has since
become nothing less than a way of life.
Olive
oil is obviously not a purely Mediterranean passion. If you
are like most adults in the U.S., you probably had your first
taste as a baby. But over the past two decades, specialty
Mediterranean-based products, including wine, espresso and
olive oil, have become increasingly popular household items
in America. The supermarket shelf is now filled with olive
oil blends of varying quality and flavor.
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The
olive's divine nectar can make your salad days healthier
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Why
Should You Care?
Studies
conducted over the past 20 years have consistently demonstrated
the striking health-related benefits of olive oil. Perhaps
more importantly, the advantages of using this wonderful,
luscious liquid in place of the sinful, fatty spreads and
oils we all love and adore are substantial. Unlike butter,
margarine, and other unhealthy food oils and spreads commonly
used in the U.S., olive oil is low in saturated fat, which
has proven to be a major contributor to heart disease. In
addition, it is high in monounsaturated fat, which has been
shown to decrease the chance of heart disease.
Listen
to the Doctor
On
the popular Olive Oil Source Web site, physician and
olive oil connoisseur John T. Deane, MD, attempts to spread
the golden elixir's healthy news. As Dr. Deane explains, "People
who eat a "Mediterranean diet" high in olive oil instead of
spreads with saturated or trans-fatty acids have been shown
to have a remarkable variety of health benefits. Studies have
shown lower levels of heart attack and other cardiovascular
disease, lower overall cancer rates, and, specifically, lower
rates of breast cancer. Extra virgin olive oil is one of the
few oils which can be eaten without chemical processing, so
it retains the natural vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and
other healthy products of the olive fruit. Many health experts
also feel that olive oil may have natural antibacterial and
antifungal properties."
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