Just
a Drizzle:
According
to the Bloomberg Global Health Index, a baby born in Italy can expect to live
to be an octogenarian—could olive oil be the reason? What is the healthiest nation?
Last
year, Italy was ranked the healthiest nation in the Bloomberg Global Health Index—which
surveys 163 countries—beating frontrunners Iceland, Switzerland,
Singapore and Australia. So, what could explain the supreme vitality of a country
that is the best known for its fine wine and delicious pasta?
Although
there are some elements of indulgency within the Italian diet, there is a
predominant emphasis on balance and proportion. The national culture dictates
that produce be as fresh as possible and of high quality. Italian cooking
practices are also defined by the heavy use of olive oil, which is used to
roast vegetables, coat salads, cook meat, and comprises an accompaniment for
dipping. According to the International Olive Council, people from Britain and
the US consume an average of one litre of olive oil per person per year. This
figure seems miniscule in comparison with the amount consumed by Italians,
which over 13 litres per person per year. Could it be that this green elixir is
the key to Italian vibrancy?
Back
to the beginning:
Olive
oil is produced from the juice of the olive fruit. The tress that provide
olives (olea europaea) have been cultivated around Mediterranean basin for
approximately 6’000 years. Today, 95% of the world’s olive oil continues to be
produced around the Mediterranean region including Europe and north Africa.
Health
Benefits:
Good
quality of olive oil is a great source of monounsaturated fat, which has been
strongly linked with lowering cholesterol. Meanwhile, Oleic acid contained
within olive oil is a common anti-inflammatory property. Various studies have
shown that a high-fat Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive
oil is better for your health than a low-fat diet. This is exemplified in a
study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013. This
research found that a Mediterranean life style resulted in a third less cases
of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke in participant than the low-fat group. •
An
Ancient Practice:
Some of the earliest references to olive oi date back to 2’500 BC; depictions have been found in Grecian stone tablets from the court of King Minos of Crete.
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