Olive Oil Nutrition and Health Benefits

The only oil in my kitchen cabinet is Olive oil. I love it for it's health and nutrition benefits. I add it to anything that requires some oil.

Olive Oil was called "the great therapeutic" by Hippocrates of ancient Greece, the father of Medicine. 

Homer called Olive Oil "liquid gold" and ancient Greek athletes ritually rubbed it all over their bodies.

The health benefits of Olive Oil that had been known and applied for centuries in ancient Greece and other parts of the ancient world are now being rediscovered by modern day researchers.

-->  

A study published in the March 2004 issue of Medical Science Monitor reported that 2 tablespoons a day of olive oil added to an otherwise unchanged diet in 28 outpatients, ranging in age from 64 to 71, resulted in significant drops in total and LDL cholesterol. If you visit the highlighted link to Medical Science Monitor you will find other more current articles on Olive Oil. 
  
Published studies link the judicious use of olive oil to reducing the effect of a growing list of ailments. For example, Greek women have a 42% lower rate of breast cancer than women in the U.S.
 
Olive oil is recognized as important in maintaining metabolism and contributes to the development of the brain and bones in children. It is also recommended as a source of vitamin E for older people. A natural anti-oxidant, olive oil slows down the natural aging process. It also slows down acid overproduction in the digestive system thereby reducing the risk for ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.
 
There is also a low incidence of skin cancer among Mediterranean populations, and olive oil consumption could be a contributing factor to this low skin cancer rate. Olive oil contains significantly higher amounts of Squalene than other seed oils, and Squalene is to a large extent transferred to the skin. German researchers believe that this transfer mechanism is probably accomplished by scavenging singlet oxygen generated by ultraviolet light. Japanese scientists also claim that virgin olive oil applied to the skin after sunbathing could protect against skin cancer by slowing tumor growth.
 
Pamper yourself, inside and out, with natures gift from the olive trees.

-->  

Updated 11/6/18

Image Credit: RitaE on Pixabay

 

Garlic and Onion Health and Nutrition

There is nothing like the smell of garlic and onions frying in a pan when preparing a meal, the smell alone makes the meal sometimes...but the benefits of garlic go beyond just culinary, most know that both garlic and onions have health benefits. 
 
Garlic and onions could help protect against stomach cancer, says a massive European-based study. The study, part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), followed 521,457 subjects in 10 European countries with an average age of 52. It is said to be the largest cohort study on fruit and vegetable intake and the incidence of stomach (gastric) cancer in Western countries and the first to look at adeno-carcinoma of the esophagus.

  -->

After an average of 6.5 years of follow-up, 400 cases of gastric cancer and 188 cases of esophagus cancer had been reported. While total vegetable intake was not associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer, the researchers report that an increase in the intake of onions and garlic of 10 grams per day was associated with a 30 per cent reduction in the risk of intestinal gastric cancer.

This is not the first time that onions have been linked to reduction in the risk of certain cancers. US researchers recently reported that onion extracts could inhibit the growth of liver and colon cancers in vitro. A large-scale epidemiological Iowa Women's Health Study looked at the garlic consumption in 41,000 middle-aged women. Results showed that women who regularly consumed garlic had 35% lower risk of developing colon cancer.

In our home, we love garlic in recipes, but also use it for the antibiotic properties that it contains.  In this case we may purchase it encapsulated, or we may mince and eat larger amounts of it than usual.  

It is the allicin content, a sulfur compound, in the garlic that is key in benefiting health. I have used a high potency garlic with a chlorophyll coating that helps with odor without reducing allicin content. You can find it by searching for high potency garlic, or just garlic, on this site.

-->  

Updated 1/5/18

Image Credit: moreharmony and PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay

Health Benefits of the Banana

The Chiquita Banana was the first banana I knew about as a child.  I remember watching advertisements with "Miss Chiquita" dancing to the melody that is familiar to people my age.
 
I loved eating bananas, but didn't give much thought at the time to the banana's many wonderful nutrition benefits, and didn't know that they were a great way to prepare for a good workout.  Read on for more information about how the banana benefits athletes, and every day people like you and me.

-->  

Research shows that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous, 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. Bananas can also help us overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet. 

Research published in the January 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer suggests that regular consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective against kidney cancer. The results of this large population based prospective study (13.4 years) of 61,000 women aged 40-76, show that women eating more than 75 servings of fruits and vegetables per month cut their risk of kidney cancer by 40%. Among the fruits, bananas were found to be especially protective. Women eating bananas four to six times a week cut their risk of kidney cancer by 50% compared to those who did not eat bananas.

A group called MIND, the largest mental health charity in England, did a study among people suffering from depression and found that many felt much better after simply eating a banana. This is because bananas contain Tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

Two-hundred students at a Twickenham (Middlesex, UK) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Bananas have also been recognized for their antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. In one study, a simple mixture of banana and milk significantly suppressed acid secretion.  The nutrients in bananas help activate the cells that compose the stomach lining, so they produce a thicker protective mucus barrier against stomach acids.  Bananas also contain compounds known as protease inhibitors which help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that are the primary cause of stomach ulcers.

 

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to help with high blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Insect Bite Remedy: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Healthy Banana Muffins - I love banana bread and banana muffins, SparkPeople has a nice selection of healthy banana muffin recipes for you to enjoy.

-->  

Updated 11/3/18

Image Credit: The Digital Artist on Pixabay