Olive oil, the mystical, mythical, magical and medicinal food of the Mediterranean basin, for thousands of years has been praised for its countless nutritional and medicinal uses. Two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily, can bring health and longevity.
Jeanne Calment, world’s number one super-centenarian (people who live 110 years and beyond), was born in 1875 and died in 1997 in Arles, France, the oldest verified person ever lived, said that she owed her longevity and good health to extra virgin olive oil. She also gave olive oil the credit for her aesthetic beauty.
The advantages of the olive oil, are not just limited to the inside of the body, but they are spreaded to the skin also. Its rich content of vitamin E, that is a very powerful antioxidant, promotes new cell growth and slows down the appearance of wrinkles.
The hydroxytyrosol, another powerful antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory effects and heals skin crackings and rashes.
The oleocanthal in olive oil has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and reduces the signs of aging.
Jean Calment never followed any special diet to be in good health. She was smoking until she was 119 years old. She ate 1 kilo of chocolate a week, drank red wine and poured olive oil onto her food. There is no way that it can get any healthier than that.
Jeanne Calment was financially comfortable and never had to work. She lived a leisured lifestyle, involved in sports and in a worry free life. To the end she showed a tremendous mental acuity, good spirits and a great sense of humor. At her 120th birthday, reporters asked her, what kind of future she predicts for herself. Her answer was: “a very short one.” She also said: “I only have one wrinkle and I am sitting on it.”
Extra virgin olive oil provided longevity in combination with her immunity to stress and frequent laughter.
When she was 90 years old, a 70 year old lawyer, Andre Francois Raffray, bought her apartment and because of her age he thought he was being clever, he signed a contract to pay her 2,500 franks a month for the rest of her life. He died at 77 and his family continued the payments, ending to pay 2 1/2 times more the value of the apartment. This was the irony of his destiny.
Living to be 122 years old, may not be the focus on everybody’s life, but living a long enjoyable life, sounds very appealing.
Take your extra virgin olive oil daily and don’t give a damn about anything!