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Olive oil - what’s it all about?

Olive oil has become popular over the last few years due to it’s health benefits, better quality production and focus on the healthy Mediterranean diet. Italians and Greeks have been using olive oils for centuries - lathering their pasta, meat and vegetables with this ‘liquid gold’, even using it to rid curses from suspicious eyes!

What are the Health Benefits?

• NO cholesterol (plant foods do not contain cholesterol)
• Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, the ‘healthier’ fat - ie saturated fats are the worst and are responsible for clogging your arteries.
• High in antioxidants -disease fighting chemicals and anti-ageing chemicals
• 30% more antioxidants if the olive oil is unfiltered
• Olive oil helps to control blood sugar levels
• There is a misconception that because olive oil is a type of fat and hence high in calories that this would lead to high obesity rates.
• Studies have shown that Mediterranean diets that are typically high in olive oil consumption lead to greater weight loss and help keep the weight off.
• The fatty acids in olive oil help boost your immune system
• Olive oil increases HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and lowers triglycerides which help lower blood sugar and control blood pressure.
• Olive oil can be effective on dry skin conditions when applied topically.

How do you eat olive oil?

Olive oil is more than just a cooking oil. By all means use it to sautee or cook your foods in. You can use it to drizzle over steamed greens, salads, or freshly roasted vegetables. Your imagination is the limit!

Olive oil unlike wine, does not improve with age. Buy your olive oil in smaller quantities (ie 250ml or 500ml bottles to keep it fresh. Olive oil lasts longer if you keep it away from direct sunlight. Where possible, buy olive oil stored in dark containers or bottles. Olive oil can oxidise and become rancid over time ( a couple of years). Rancid olive oil has been described as smelling like ’stale walnuts’.

Olive Oil types and recipe ideas

So you’ve bought some olive oil, now what do you do with it? Firstly it is important to know what the different types of olive oils are.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

EVOO has been given the label as the BEST olive oil. It is also the most common oil produced in Australia and the world. The oil is extracted from the olives soon after harvesting the olives and processed without the use of solvents or excess heat. EVOO is sometimes described as ‘cold pressed’ which refers to the above method of oil extraction. EVOO must have an acidity level < 1% and must have a well balanced flavour. Refer to recipes for EVOO uses.

Australia now produces some of the best olive oils in the world due to our mediterranean climate. Regions such as Margaret River, South Western Australia and the Barossa Valley are producing some award winning oils.

Pure Olive Oil

This type of olive oil is actually a blend of refined oil and virgin olive oil and has a mild flavour. This oil is better for stir frying, deep frying and saut

Tags: cooking, food, gourmet, gourmet food, oil, olive oil, Organic, recipe, recipescooking, food, gourmet, gourmet food, oil, olive oil, Organic, recipe, recipes

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Many people are now singing the praises of using organic foods because of them being chemical, hormone, antibiotic and GM free, but are natural and even organic foods really as safe as we thought?

Although your supermarket and health food stores may be saying one thing they will not actually tell you how many “Critical Violations” they have had in respect of their organic products.

In America the Center for Disease Control have reported that over 70 million Americans are taken ill every year and at least 5,000 of them will die from food poisoning. Although some of the cases reported can be put down to food being handled incorrectly by the consumer, a large number of the cases have been caused by the stores that actually sell the food to you.

There are five risks which are likely to contribute to food borne diseases and these are:-

Food not being kept at the correct holding temperature.
The food has not been cooked, cooled or reheated adequately.
The personal hygiene of the people who are actually handling the food being poor.
Equipment used with the food is found to be contaminated.
The food that you have brought us come from an unsafe source.

It has been found that most bacteria found grows between 40 and 140 degrees and therefore cold food should be kept in a cold atmosphere below 40 degrees and hot food needs to be kept at temperatures above 140 degrees.

The water that is used by employees in food preparation areas (especially in their toilets) should be at 110 degrees for any bacteria on their hands to be killed and employees must remember to wash their hands every time they use the toilet.

Any meat cases that are be used should be cleaned completely of any spilled juices or blood and fridges and freezers should be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. You will find that bacteria even grows in the freezers themselves.

Any toxic pesticides and cleaning products used by food preparation companies and supermarkets should be correctly stored and kept well away from food and food storage areas.

Regular checks should be carried out to ensure that neither rodents nor flying and crawling bugs have access to foods and their storage areas. All supermarkets and food preparation places (restaurants) should have a pest control system in place for dealing with any infestation that may occur.

Although all of this sounds easy, logical and certainly achievable, the actual truth may vary vastly from what we believe.

Although it is hard to believe there have been cases where things have been discovered that many people thought were impossible, such as:-

A woman purchased a freshly baked cooking in her local supermarket and then found a cockroach inside.
Some stores will often sell products such as milk, meats, breads and other packaged goods that have long passed their expiration date.

People have discovered bugs on the fruit that they brought in the store when they get it home.

Unfortunately organic, natural and even mass produced foods are at the mercy of the standard of the store where you buy them from, and it is wise to keep your eyes open and be aware before you buy foods that are handled, cooked, cut and packaged by the store employees. If you are able to inspect the boxes and packaging that the products you are purchasing are in for any tears or openings. If you spend a little more time in considering a product and how it has been handled can mean the difference to your health and may be even your life.

Kerris Samson who now lives in Spain and has become a work from home mum. Since moving to Spain she has taken a keen interest in healthy living and leading a healthy life style which has led to her setting up a number of sites relating to these subjects. If you would like to know more please visit http://www.wholesomeorganics.info.

Tags: Alternative Foods, Foods, Organic, Organic Foods, OrganicsAlternative Foods, Foods, Organic, Organic Foods, Organics

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