Who doesn’t want to be that little bit healthier? Especially if improving your health involves minimal effort. With this in mind we’ve made it our mission to bring you news each week of a product, a foodstuff, an exercise technique or a pill that promises potentially magical health-giving properties.
This week’s magic ingredient: Olive oil.
Not to be confused with: Engine oil. Pop Eye’s girlfriend.
Ah. The oil you can’t cook chips in. There are over 750 million olive trees worldwide and the stuff has been in production for at least the last 10,000 years. Chances are a drop or two might have found its way into your kitchen at some stage.
How is it made? In the case of extra virgin olive oil the ripe olives are picked, crushed and then pressed. The oil they contained is collected, bottled and consumed with no added ingredients. Refined olive oil has normally undergone further processes and can contain other ingredients.
So which type is the best? Extra virgin is better for you, although it can be more expensive. Also, some refined olive oils will have a longer shelf life and will lack the strong flavour some people dislike. A good compromise is to use extra virgin on salads, bread and other cold foodstuffs and then switch to refined for cooking. When olive oil is cooked it loses a lot of its health benefits in any case.
What exactly does it do for you? The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world, and olive oil forms a key part of it. Studies have shown that olive oil combats heart disease, lowers bad (LDL) collateral, increases good (HDL) cholesterol, protects against a number of cancer types including bowel and colon cancer. It’s also a natural anti-oxidant.
So what’s the craic then, how should it be taken? Olive oil is the only oil out there to be designed for consumption as is. In the Med put it in everything but notably on bread instead of butter. You can also mix it with some balsamic vinegar and throw it over your salads. Far better for you than resorting to some gloopy dressing. You can also drizzle it over pasta, roast or boiled new potatoes, pop a bit into sauces, the list is pretty much endless.
People have traditionally used to keep skin and hair looking healthy by smearing themselves with it. Which we wouldn’t recommend.
Seriously though, does this really work?
Jeanne Calment, the verified oldest person ever who lived to 122, said olive oil was the secret to her longevity. She went through tons of the stuff throughout her life time – both eating it and dousing herself in the stuff. That said, she also smoked like a trooper and chomped through a kilo of chocolate per week.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
