Extra Virgin Olive Oil Saves Lives
Healthy Oils
The health benefits of extra virgin olive oil are no secret. For millennia, the people of the Mediterranean have reaped its godlike benefits. The flavors of Lemon, Rosemary, and Olive Oil have seemed to play together since the days of Homer. Yet sometimes it is easy to overlook why these classic flavors came into vogue. When we look at culinary trends from the Blue Zone it is often a matter of function before form, and the use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil is no exception. With a wide range of wellness benefits, from skincare to cardiovascular, it is no wonder that it is a staple of the gracefully aging communities from Spain to Egypt.
1 in 4, In the United States Die From Cardiovascular Disease
According to the CDC, about 659,000 people in the United States die from heart disease each year, making it the leading cause of death in the country. While there are many factors that contribute to this, lifestyle and diet play a major role in this statistic. Staying away from nicotine, proper exercise, and healthy sleeping habits provide a solid foundation for heart health.
Fats and Diet
Americans consume foods low in fiber and high in saturated fats and sugar. This looks like a diet rich in fried food, starches and sweets. This combination prevents the body from purging lipids and encourages plaque build up. While the use of different fats in cooking is routine, Americans often use canola, butter and shortening, which are high in saturated-fats. Not only that, but these overheated oils become carcinogenic because of the instability of their fat content.
Fats to Avoid:
Vegetable
Margarine
Shortening
Butter
Yet, not all fats are bad, and healthy fats should be a regular at your dinner party. Extra Virgin Olive oil is a great example, as it is high in Vitamin E (a vitamin that fights cancer causing free radicals), full of antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory and has heat-stable fats that won’t attack your lungs as you cook.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is:
High in antioxidants
High in Vitamin E
A Heat-Stable Fat
Why Extra Virgin?
When picking out your olive oil it is important to select a fresh, high quality extra virgin cold pressed variety if you are selecting one for dietary reasons. Since it is the first pressing it is much higher in the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are so beneficial for you. Not to mention it tastes so much richer.
It's Easy to Incorporate Into Your Life
From vinaigrette to fried scallopini, Olive Oil is a wonderful and versatile adjunct to any diet. The dish of Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is one of the finest love songs to olive oil ever written. Follow the link here for a great recipe for how to prepare it from the New York Times.
