In ancient Greece, Hippocrates believed that olive oil wasn’t only a food, but a great medicine. Although the knowledge of chemistry was limited or didn’t exist, it amazingly achieved what we today consider a balanced diet. This diet contains protein, carbohydrates, very little meat and unsaturated fats, especially from olive oil. Since ancient times olive oil has been used as treatment for many body ailments because of its numerous vitamins and nutrients.
Today doctors recommend the extra virgin olive oil because of its countless health benefits. This super food contains many monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. The oleic acid is very effective in lowering the oncogene that can cause cancer.
Doctors recommend that people with diabetes should use extra virgin olive oil regularly in their diet. Research proves that food cooked in olive oil, minimizes the risk of getting diabetes.
In Greece where I come from we believe that extra virgin olive oil significantly reduces the chances of getting asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatic cancer, gallstone development and lowers the body’s triglycerides that play a major role for heart attacks etc. We also believe that pregnant women who eat olive oil during their pregnancy give birth to taller children.
Olive oil, “liquid gold.”