Liquid gold

The beautiful actress Sophia Loren spoke many times about the benefits of olive oil, taken internally (in food, or simply drunk by itself) as well as applied externally (as a lotion). Kamin Mohammadi, the author of Bella Figura, as well as women in many cultures, have also experienced the benefits of this staple of the Mediterranean diet. The benefits of olive oil are countless. Just Google it, and you can read many articles about its anti-inflammatory properties and its amazing power to protect you from many diseases (cardiovascular, stroke, etc.), its antioxidants, vitamins A, D, E and K, and its good monosaturated fatty acids. Applied to the skin, it works as a marvellous moisturizer, after-sun treatment and, apparently, an antibacterial cream. I do use it on my skin as a face cream and a fabulous eye makeup remover. But here, obviously, I am focusing on its nutritional use. 

On store shelves, you will find many different kinds of olive oil, from mild and buttery to grassy and pungent, light yellow in colour to green, plain or flavoured. Unfortunately, nowadays apparently there are many fakes in stores, with additions of other kinds of oils. Consumers are warned to be on the lookout for fraudulent olive oils that can be diluted with canola, sunflower or even peanut oil. This is not a recent problem. Global News reported that according to a California study in 2013, about 69% of North American olive oil is adulterated in some fashion, even though it still conforms to the general standards accepted by the industry. So how can we tell? In most cases, we probably can, but price is a good indicator. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. So choose a bottle that has a reasonable price and fulfills the following three quality conditions:

1.     Extra virgin

2.     Cold pressed

3.     Filtered naturally 

What are the best uses of olive oil? Here are some, all checked by yours truly:

·      Salad dressing (for the basic and most delicious one, add either balsamic vinegar or lemon, salt, pepper, fresh garlic, and a bit of good mustard to emulsify)

·      Homemade mayonnaise or aioli (substitute olive oil for the other oils used)

·      Grilled veggies (coat with olive oil with salt and pepper, and a touch of balsamic before roasting or grilling)

·      Dip your fresh bread in it for an appetizer. You can add balsamic vinegar, but a high-quality oil doesn’t need any additions

·      For additional richness of flavour, drizzle olive oil over pastas, meat or fish dishes once they are cooked and ready to serve.

·      In baking, using olive oil instead of butter dramatically reduces the amount of saturated fat and eliminates the cholesterol.

·      It can pretty much enhance everything you eat.

·      A spoonful of olive oil in the morning will not only help with digestion and provide excellent nutrients but will also coat your digestive tract if you, like me, start the day with a double espresso.

·      As a cosmetic:

o   Apply to face of body as a cream

o   Massage oil

o   Eye make-up remover

o   Combined with sugar: an excellent exfoliator which leaves your skin feeling really good and moisturized