The Power of Olive Oil

Good fats like those in olive oil work miracles for your blood sugar and your health in general. Unlike butter, these saturated fats don't increase insulin resistance and may even work to reverse it, helping your body to steady its blood sugar. As for the heart health, eating generous amounts of olive oil is one of the main reasons that people who follow the Mediterranean diet have less heart disease and fewer heart attacks. One study found that when 28 men and women added 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to their usual diets for six weeks, they experienced a 12% drop in total cholesterol and a 16% drop in LDL (bad) cholesterol. Numerous studies over the years have shown that olive oil not only lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol but also raises HDL, the good kind. This oil is also rich in antioxidants called phenols, which help protect artery walls from cholesterol buildup. Olive Oil also contains an anti-inflammatory component so strong that researchers liken it to aspirin. This may be another reason that people who follow the Mediterranean diet have such low rates of heart disease which is linked to inflammation. So, by the way, is type 2 diabetes, not to mention other chronic diseases like Alzheimer's.

Great cooks use olive oil in just about everything. Check out these suggestions:

Serve a dish of good olive oil with cracked black pepper for dipping whole grain bread

Instead of using butter on bread or mashed potatoes, try olive oil mixed with roasted garlic

Use it as a base for marinades for beef, chicken, fish or pork

Add it to pasta, crumbled feta cheese, chopped fresh basil and capers for a fast and oh so simple dinner

We carry spice infused olive oils, infused with all the goodness and nutrients and vitamins of allspice,peppercorns, chili pepper, coriander and raw garlic andbay leaves. Now that's magic in a bottle!!