Health Issues Articles
The Many Uses of Olive Oil
Did you know that olive oil is a fruit juice? If you live in a Mediterranean country, it may not come as any surprise. After all, it is estimated that of the 775 million olive trees under cultivation in the world, about 96% are in the Mediterranean region. In Greece 60% of its cultivated land is devoted olive growing, and is the top producer of black olives. In some lands olive oil has played an important role in people's lives for thousands of years.
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Disclaimer: The articles here come from a variety of publishers. I chose them becasue they had content that might be of interest to my readers. This does not maen that I endorse them or their content. Sincerely and God bless ... Wbisbill
olive oil
Olive Oil And Its
Uses by Geoff Cummings
Did you know that olive oil is a fruit juice? If you live in a
Mediterranean country, it may not come as any surprise. After all, it
is estimated that of the 775 million olive trees under cultivation in
the world, about 96% are in the Mediterranean region. In Greece 60% of
its cultivated land is devoted olive growing, and is the top producer
of black olives. In some lands olive oil has played an important role
in people's lives for thousands of years.
In simple terms, the olive is the fruit of an
evergreen, (Olea europaea), and olive oil is essentially what is
squeezed from the olive. Because of its slow growth, the olive tree may
take up to ten years or more before producing well. After that, the
tree can produce fruit for hundreds of years. It is said that there are
olive trees in Palestine that date back more than a thousand years!
The production of olive oil begins by crushing the olives under
millstones. The crushing produces a paste that is placed under
hydraulic presses to extract the juices. This is no ordinary fruit
juice, however. It is actually a mix of water and oil. After the water
has been removed, the oil is graded, stored, and bottled for
consumption.
In Ancient Times
The versatility of olive oil was especially evident in the ancient
world. In Egypt, for example, olive oil was used as a lubricant in
moving heavy building materials. In addition to being a basic food,
olive oil was used as a cosmetic and as fuel in the Middle East.
According to a number of Bible accounts, olive oil, laced with perfume,
was used as a skin lotion. It was also commonly applied to the skin as
protection from the sun and after bathing. To grease the head of a
guest with oil was considered an act of hospitality. The oil also
served a medicinal purpose as it was used to soothe bruises and wounds.
And olive oil was likely an ingredient used in preparing a person for
burial. What was commonly burned as fuel in ancient lamps? It was the
multipurpose olive oil!
Recognized today as a high-energy food and one of the most digestible
fats, olive oil also served as a staple in the Israelite diet.
In Modern Times
Today olive oil is as multipurpose as ever. Olive oil products are
included in cosmetics, detergents, medicines, and even textiles. Olive
oil in soap has a natural ability to mix with water and go deeply into
the pores of the skin. This has a cleansing quality that rarely happens
with other soap. But the oil still serves principally as food. Although
its popularity in Europe and the Middle East is unmatched, in recent
years it has been in increasing demand in other lands as well.
Why this big increase? One reason is that olive oil is said to be a
good source of vitamin E. A number of studies have also revealed that
the consumption of the monounsaturated fats in olive oil might benefit
the heart without negative side effects. Another study claimed that
olive oil may lower blood pressure and reduce blood-sugar levels.
Some experts have recommended a high-fat diet based on monounsaturates
such as are found in olive oil. Consumer Reports noted that such
recommendation "caused something of a sensation, because the notion
that any high-fat diet could be good for the heart was almost
nutritional heresy. Monounsaturates soon garnered increased press
attention, and sales of olive oil accelerated."
Are these claims generally accepted? There seems to be little dispute
over the claim that the monounsaturated fats found in olives, avocados,
and some nuts are a healthier choice than the polyunsaturated and
saturated fats found in other foods. However, some experts feel that
the other claims have been somewhat exaggerated.
A group of researchers gave this advice: "All olive oil, 'light' or
not, is 100 percent fat and contains about 125 calories per tablespoon.
For that reason alone, it can play only a limited role in a healthful
diet. The potential health benefits of olive oil come exclusively from
its use as a substitute for butter, margarine, and other vegetable
oils-and even those benefits have been overstated." With good reason
the International Olive Oil Council published this warning: "Before you
get carried away by enthusiasm and add gallons of olive oil to your
diet, a few words of caution are in order. Large consumption of olive
oil may keep you healthy, but not necessarily thin."
A study in the British Medical Journal, in 2008, reported that the
Mediterranean diet can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers
in Spain used detailed questionnaires to track the eating habits of
more than 13,000 Spanish university graduates for several years. They
found that those who closely followed a Mediterranean diet rich in
olive oil but with little red meat, and only a moderate amount of
dairy, reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 83%.
Grades of Olive Oil
* Extra-virgin olive oil comes from cold pressing of the olives,
contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and is judged to have a superior
taste. It is the highest grade possible. Extra-virgin and virgin olive
oil may not contain refined oil.
* Virgin olive oil has an acidity less than 2%, and is judged to have a
good taste.
* Olive oil is a blend of virgin oil and refined oil, of no more than
1.5% acidity. Manufacturers refine this type of oil with the use of
solvents, which are then removed, then blended with high-quality virgin
olive oil. It commonly lacks a strong flavor.
* Olive-pomace oil is a blend of refined pomace olive oil and possibly
some virgin oil. It is fit for consumption, but may not be described
simply as olive oil. Olive-pomace oil is rarely sold at retail; it is
often used for certain kinds of cooking in restaurants.
* Lampante oil is olive oil not suitable as food; lampante comes from
olive oil's use in lamps which are oil-burning.
About the Author
Geoff Cummings runs the gourmet foods site at http://www.kitchenandhousewares.us
where international foods are on sale and available for immediate
delivery.
Source url: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1311033
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol also known as hypercholesterolemia is the presence of a high level of cholesterol in the blood, It is not a disease itself, but a serious metabolic derangement that is linked to many disease and serious medical conditions, such as stroke and severe cardiovascular conditions. A high level of cholesterol can be caused by several factors, some of these factors can be prevented while others cannot.