A Little History About Olive Oil
While olive trees were probably first cultivated some part of the eastern Mediterranean roughly around 5000 B.C., their popularity progressed westward throughout history and their ancestry has been traced back to Italy 20 million years ago. If you picture the time when Roman’s ruled the most of the world and you’ll recall visualizing royalty adorning olive crowns; van Gogh paint and The Olive Trees, said to be the counterpart to his more famous painting Starry Night; many references in the Bible. The typical olive tree contains an array of bendy branches connected near the bottom of the trunk. Its leafy branches bear dainty sprigs of white blooms, and the delicious green fruit we love so much. It is said that the tree symbolizes peace and prosperity, which would account why the delicious oils from the olives themselves have become a commodity in high demand.
Those of italian decent are commonly associated with their use of olive oil, and the freshest ingredients. Most people won’t dare to deep fry with olive oil, mostly because of the cost, the added drizzle of the tantalizing oil as a final touch will certainly compliment most meals. True olive oil is cold-pressed, meaning no artificial heat is applied during processing, and if subjected to high-heat cooking you are basically eliminating the antioxidants olive oil contains. Which also means if stored in a window sill with direct sunlight the color changes and shelf-life decreases. We enjoy showing off our fancy, and somewhat expensive, kitchen ingredients, make certain that your olive oil is in a dark, tinted bottle or store it in a cool, dry place.
Being a monounsaturated fat (a fat that studies show does not raise the LDL, or bad cholesterol) is a big plus for olive oil, and may be why the olive oil industry is now bigger than ever. Americans are more health conscious than ever and are continually searching for ways to stay fit and young. Any physician will tell you that crash diets and surgeries are not the path to a healthier lifestyle. They are extremely dangerous and, they surely aren’t lasting. The only time tested, true path to lose those extra pounds, lower the cholesterol and get more physically fit is with a change in lifestyle of diet and exercise. Not a fad. Not a pill. Not a temporary fix. We are talking about a complete overhaul of eating habits, getting away from the couch and being accountable for what we put into our bodies. Here are some fun facts for you: According to the Center for Disease Control and the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States; an estimated 47% of cardiac emergencies are pronounced dead before emergency service arrives; in 2009, it’s projected that heart disease will cost $304.6 billion in health care, medication and lost productivity. Scared yet?
Olive oil alone isn’t going to drop your BMI (body mass index) to under 25, and Its not the saving grace for healthier living, but it can definitely be a great start. Instead of deep fat frying that chicken, try dipping it in egg-whites, then breadcrumbs, and lightly spray with some olive oil before baking it. You get the crispy texture, great taste, and its a much better choice for you. Instead of saturating your salads with ranch dressing, try using an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. Small changes can go a long way with your heart, your health and your life.