Olive oil is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, as well as fuel for regular oil lamps. It is used throughout the world and especially in the Mediterranean countries, such as Croatia, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain and Greece.
Growing up in a traditional and very Greek family, olive oil has been always in my life. Today in our family, we consume plenty of extra virgin olive oil daily. It is delicious and we are addicted to it. We love the extra virgin olive oil, not only because of its taste, but also because it is great for your health.
Olive oil contributes to health and longevity, because of its high content in poly-phenols. When you refine olive oil, it loses its richness in phenolic content.
My mother and father always discussed the benefits of olive oil. Not only it was used as our food, but it was used as a remedy by applying it topically.
When my sister and I had an earache my mother put a drop or two of warm olive oil in my ear to soothe the pain. When we got an insect sting or in the beach got stung by a jelly fish or a sea urchin we applied olive oil. Mix one teaspoon of olive oil with one teaspoon of water, beat until creamy and apply to the required area. To get a nice suntan or to smooth dry skin we used olive oil.
A great way to cleanse your digestive system, is to smash a couple of figs in extra virgin olive oil and eat them.
Use olive oil for a soothing enema. What a topic…. but sometime we have to discuss it. Mix 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil with two cups of lukewarm water (boil it and let it cool to lukewarm). Proceed the usual way. It is a great way to cleanse your colon.
Arthritis, osteoporosis and bursitis can give a person a great deal of pain, along with swelling, stiffening and movement limitation. Taking a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in the morning , half an hour before breakfast, not only eases the pain, it minimizes the development of these dreadful diseases.
In the Greek household olive oil’s role is nutritional and medicinal.