The olive must truly be one of the greatest and most versatile fruits on earth. It is amazing that it has taken the Western world so long to recognize all its wonderful benefits. People are now recognizing that olive oil (especially extra virgin olive oil) has many uses as well as being good for the health.
Not so long ago people might occasionally use a little olive oil to fry with, or as a base for a salad dressing. Now we are also realizing the wonderful tastes that it can have as a dipping agent, on its own or mixed with a few other ingredients. Different olive oils have a different taste of their own too, as olive oil connoisseurs well know. Like fine wines, each olive oil has a distinctive taste depending on where it is grown and how it is produced. Extra virgin olive oil is most definitely the preferred kind from whatever region. Extra virgin olive oil is extracted from the olive by pressing. This thick and lovely substance tastes divine while having the benefits of powerful antioxidants. There is even growing evidence that it may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease!
Greek olive oil is supposedly the purest but Italian olive oil is still the most popular in terms of flavors. Variety is the spice of life and there is nothing wrong with having several different olive oil bottles in the home to eat with different things, or for different purposes.
Olive oil skin care products are becoming increasingly popular too for those who want to use natural (and usually organic) products. It can be used as a moisturizer, a lip balm, nail soak, bath oil and even hair conditioner. Extra virgin olive oil also makes a great carrier oil to use with aromatherapy essential oils for both beauty and health.
The beautiful olive tree has more to offer than just its fruit and shade though. Many people are now discovering the wonders of olive leaf extract. The leaf of the olive tree has even more concentrated amounts of the health-giving ingredients found in the olive itself. It is particularly good for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.
This wonder from the Mediterranean, although its origins are still unknown, is one of the oldest cultivated fruits in the world and is now grown almost all over the earth. For eating pleasure, pampering the body, and enhancing health it has few rivals.
