Olive Oil, Good For What Ails You

I had no idea that “good” extra virgin olive oil could be so spectacularly different than the one I always bought. You know, the bottle at the grocery store label “olive oil.” Then I tried Dimitri extra virgin olive oil from the Arbutus Farmers Market and will never return to the generic store brand olive oil again. It really makes a difference.

This olive oil comes from Greece where the olives are hand-picked or gently shaken off the trees so as not to bruise the fruit. After washing to eliminate leaves, twigs, and other impurities, the olives are crushed into a paste within the first 24 hours of picking. The paste goes through several steps, the last being centrifuging where the rapid spinning eliminates all remaining water and impurities from the oil. This olive oil is labeled first cold-pressed (no heat or chemicals have been applied through this process) and it has the most delicate flavor. The unfiltered process ensures the purest of all virgin olive oils and the strongest health benefits. To learn more about the process, please visit here. 

Mountains of information have been published about the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil. Anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, and digestive health are all among the benefits of a Mediterranean diet and, in particular, olive oil.  

My top 5 benefits:

1. It’s all natural-it is nothing but fruit juice extracted from the olive fruit.
2. Flavor-It just tastes good and can easily be infused with other flavors like garlic.
3. Nutritional value- vitamins E, K, and A as well as polyphenols, squalene, oleocanthol, triterpenes and hundreds more micronutrients make olive oil a healthy choice.
4. Oleic Acid-oleic acid (omega 9) make sup 55-85 percent of the fatty acids in olive oils. Oleic acid aids in keeping our arteries supple and helps prevent cancer.
5.  Hydrogenated Oils-olive oil is NOT hydrogenated oil. Hydrogenation creates dangerous trans-fats that are found in margarine and many other packaged foods.

What can you do with olive oil?

• Use it in your salad dressings.
• Puree minced garlic, cooked potatoes and extra virgin olive oil together to make exceptionally delicious garlic mashed potatoes.
• Drizzle it over healthy sautéed vegetables before serving.
• Puree extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and your favorite bean together in a food processor. Season to taste and serve as a dip.
• Instead of putting the butter dish out on the table, try a small cup of extra virgin olive oil to use on your bread or rolls. For extra flavor, try adding a little balsamic vinegar or any of your favorite spices

Now I have one more recipe for you to try. I am a popcorn connoisseur and I have tried it many different ways. Some were good (like chocolate chips and sea salt), some, not so much (like chili powder and bacon). I will share with you now the most delicious popcorn I have ever made.

Popcorn-cooked to your liking

Extra virgin olive oil-you don’t need a lot, just a light covering, mix well.

Salt to taste.

Brewers yeast-adds some nutritional value, but mostly for flavor.

Want more recipes? Check here. Come to the Arbutus Farmers Market this Thursday anytime from 2-6 pm. Talk to Demitri or me, and we will tell you more of the secrets of olive oil.