by Katerina Nikolas

Created on: January 05, 2010   Last Updated: January 07, 2010

People in Mediterranean countries have grown up amidst the olive trees and have long known the advantages of using olive oil in their everyday lives. They are often amazed that those in other countries are now discovering and extolling the virtues and advantages to using olive oil.

Over the centuries the Mediterranean countries have used their own fine produced extra virgin olive oil for many purposes, indeed to them it is a staple commodity, and it would be impossible to imagine a  household which doesn’t regularly used many kilos of olive oil each year.  It is now of course well established that one of the greatest advantages to the usage of olive oil is its health giving properties and it is now regarded as the key part of a healthy Mediterranean diet.

Of all the oils available olive oil is the healthiest as it contains only monounsaturated fats, which means that it aids in the reduction of cholesterol, thus giving added benefits to the heart. It also contains vital vitamins and has been shown to have an advantageous effect on the brain.  Other health advantages are its bone strengthening properties and its aid with the digestive system.

As well as being recognized as having health giving properties olive oil has the advantage of having many other uses. It can be used as a beauty remedy and has long been used as an aid against wrinkles, when combined with natural lemon juice and rubbed into the skin. It is also used to improve the condition of hair leaving it shiny and smooth.  Olive oil has also been used as a massage oil for many years, to sooth aching muscles, whilst at the same time softening the skin.

Of course the best thing about olive oil is its wonderful flavour and versatility as a food. It is used in cooking dishes from vegetables to meats, fish and pulses, and in sweets cakes. It is also used as a preservative for other foods such as cheeses, lemons and vegetables. It is used for frying food and has less calories than other oils. It is used extensively on salads in the Mediterranean where it enhances the flavour of fresh leaves and tomatoes. Natural of flavoured olive oil is eaten with bread and has the advantage of being so much healthier than butter. Flavoured oils can be made from fresh herbs and the oil absorbs the flavours with ease.

The advantages of olive oil are now available outside the Mediterranean where the demands for it now increase each year, with the finest extra virgin olive oils now given the same recognition as fine wines.

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