Olive oil – it tastes delicious, is used for a variety of purposes and is as ancient as the land itself.
Lawrence Durrell once said of our Olives:
The whole Mediterranean, the sculpture, the palms, the gold beads, the bearded heroes, the wine, the ideas, the ships, the moonlight, the winged gorgons, the bronze men, the philosophers – all of it seems to rise in the sour, pungent taste of these black olives between the teeth. A taste older than meat, older than wine. A taste as old as cold water.
Corfu has been producing Olive Oil for thousands of years. Homer mentions Corfu in The Odyssey as having olive trees – that was a long long time ago.
About 3% of the world’s Olive Oil comes from Corfu! There are around 3-6 million olive trees on the island and some of them are over 400 years old. You taste history every time you use some of our Olive Oil!
Corfu Olive Oil also has numerous health benefits, let’s explore some of them:
1. Kills Cancer Cells
Oleocanthal, an ingredient found in Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), has been found to kill cancer cells within 30 minutes!
2. Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
A recent study found that a Mediterranean style diet rich in Olive Oil reduces the risk of type II diabetes by about 50 percent!
3. Helps Prevent Strokes
Regular consumption of Olive Oil helps lower the risk of stroke, especially in older adults.
4. Keeps the Heart Young and Healthy
Helps slow down the aging of the heart. The endothelium is a layer of cells that line the inner walls of the arteries, a diet rich in Olive Oil reduces the endothelial damage that occurs with age and helps the blood circulate smoothly.
5. Fights Against Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that decreases the bone mass and can lead to a weakened bone structure, this can cause problems such as bone fractures making the slightest knocks fatal. Olive Oil helps fortify the thickness of our bones, thus reducing the effects of Osteoporosis.
6. Protects from Depression
Olive Oil and the Mediterranean diet not only provides a myriad of physical health benefits, but also helps with emotional health problems, such as depression. Regular consumption of Olive Oil lowers the risk of Depression.
7. Prevents Skin Cancer
A study by Tel Aviv University in Israel and Rockstock University in Germany concluded that Olive Oil contributes to the prevention of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Malignant melanoma, may be slowed down by a diet rich in Olive Oil, which is rich in antioxidants. Dr. Niva Shapira of Tel Aviv University advises to “go Greek” with foods such as Olive Oil, fish, yogurt and colorful fruits and vegetables to fight the oxidizing effect of the sun.
8. Promotes Weight Loss and Protects from Metabolic Syndrome
Olive Oil helps promote Weight Loss by curbing hunger. In addition to losing weight, Olive Oil also protects against Metabolic Syndrome.
9. Aging and Longevity
It can help slow down the effects of aging and helps preserve vitality and youthfulness. Olive Oil has a beneficial effect on all the hallmarks of aging at the cellular and molecular levels. Two women, 120 years of age attribute their long life to regular consumption of Olive Oil, one of them even claims to drink one whole glass of it per day!
10. Reduces the Risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Italian researchers have found that Extra Virgin Olive Oil may prevent or delay the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease and reduce the severity of it’s symptoms.
There are many health benefits that we get from Olive Oil and new research is being done to find out even more!
Stock up on Corfu Olive Oil and enjoy all the benefits that go with it, buy some on your holidays, order some online or get some from your local stores in your country – it is a great health investment for you and your family, you will also enjoy the delicious taste of our island’s Olive Oil!
For more fun facts about Corfu Olive Oil, go here.
When you taste our Olive Oil, you taste Corfu!
Written by Joseph Harry Rapsomanikis