If you or any member of your family is prone to cardio vascular disease, you should make sure that you always have olive oil in your kitchen.

Olive oil, after all, is highly known as a healthy oil, among the many different kinds of oils available in the market. It is very rich in mono-unsaturated fat. In addition, olive oil also brings a lot of flavor into your food. A lot of Mediterranean dishes make use of olive oil.

It is useful to have two kinds of olive oil in your kitchen at all times. Extra virgin olive oil is for making salad dressings, as well as times when the oil does not have to undergo cooking. Extra virgin olive oil is the most expensive kind and it will be a waste to use it to cook. The process of cooking burns the olive oil particles and as a result, the food tastes off.

Another type of oil you should have in your kitchen is for sautéing and other cooking purposes. We suggest that you have light olive oil or pure olive oil on hand. Take note that when you say “light” it does not mean it is lighter in calories. It does not also possess fewer mono-unsaturated fats. “Light” means that it has less flavor and lighter in color.

Here is a recipe that will surely make you feel as if you’re out dining in your favorite restaurant. Get a piece of crusty loaf of bread and make a dipping sauce such as the one stated below. Dipping sauces can be made with just plain olive oil. You can also make a combination using cheese and herbs. However, we give you the recipe below to provide you with guidance if you are not that confident experimenting with the cheese and herbs.

Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:
3 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 clove of garlic, minced
½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp pepper, freshly ground
¼ cup olive oil, the extra-virgin kind
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 16-ounce loaf of multi-grain bread, unsliced

Procedure:
1. In a shallow bowl, mix the first five ingredients together. Slowly pour the oil and vinegar so that it is evenly placed over the cheese mixture. Stir while drizzling.
2. Heat the bread in the oven 350 degrees. Make sure to place it on the lower oven rack. Heat it for 15 minutes or until the bread is thoroughly heated. Cut the bread into slices 1 inch thick. Dip the bread into the mixture.

The sauce is good for 6 servings.

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Growth and appearance of cancer cells diminished from using olives

A study of the properties of the olive leaf and skin has been carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Granada. Their findings revealed that the properties found that maslinic acid, a substance found in the crushed olive pulp actually reduced the risk of carcinogens and associated processes.

The results of the research from the University of Granada have demonstrated what action maslinic takes when applied to the development of the cells of cancerous tumours. As an enzyme that hydrolyzes proteins, Maslinic acid is important in the regulation of the growth of cells. As a treatment for cancer it is beneficial because maslinic acid controls hypertrophy, the excessive development of an organ or cells, and hyperplasia a condition common to cancer sufferers.

Professor L Cara, from the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, directed the work of PhD student Fernando Zurita. They summarised their findings by describing the three distinct advantages of the use of maslinic acid in the field of oncology. Firstly, highly cytotoxic is created naturally and therefore less toxic than other anti cancer products that contain chemicals. Its second advantage is that it only affects cells that are carcinogenic and have higher levels of acid in their pH. And thirdly, it protects and inhibits the appearance of cancer in cells that are more predisposed to becoming cancerous.

Treating cancer of all types

The research directed by Professor L Cara focussed entirely on the treatment of colon cancer by studying the effects of maslinic acid when used on affected cells. The study was carried out using transgenic mice but the research group under Professor Cara are still considering the likelihood that it may be possible in the future to apply this treatment to human cancer patients.

High concentrations of maslinic acid can be found in olive skin wax, as a pentacylic terpene it acts as not only an anti inflammatory and antioxidant but is anti-carcinogenic.

The Faculty of Sciences in the University of Granada is the only place in the world where maslinic acid is produced at semi-industrial levels.

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Use Olive Oil to make the most of your natural beauty

In winter skin and hair suffer from the cold and dry atmosphere. Many of us spend inordinate amounts of money to remedy this with jars of miracle creams that promise to banish all those problems. However, thanks to the healing properties of olive oil chapped lips, dry skin and hair can be reversed at much less expensive.

As a beauty treatment olive oil can be used in many different ways and can make the most of your natural beauty. It can be applied directly on to chapped lips or use as part of your bathing routine to moisturize your
skin. Add a little olive oil combined with any type of essential oil to your bath and allow the combination to do its work. If taking a bath before going to bed you may find lavender oil is more relaxing. This simple beauty treatment will result in pampered supple skin, and works perfectly every time.

For very dry hair that is crying out for moisture you can use olive oil as a deep treatment by applying warmed olive oil all over your hair, working from the root to the tip, ensuring that the driest areas are well covered, then cover your hair with a plastic shower cap and relax. The longer you leave the warm oil treatment the better but an hour should be the minimum.

You have taken care of your exterior by applying olive oil as a beauty treatment but by using olive oil in your diet you can bring out your inner beauty. Olive oil contains anti-oxidants that fight against free radicals which are known to damage skin so it makes sense to use olive oil wherever and whenever possible. Enjoy olive oil with salads or vegetables and the results will be seen in an improvement in your skin, hair and nails, not to mention a healthy heart.

 olive oil beauty aid  

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Getting the right olive oil flavor. Salad dressing, bread dipping sauces, grilled fish and vegetables – these healthy foods all have one thing in common. Until recently, the use of this one thing in everyday cooking was quite a taboo; but, scientists and doctors have realized the health-benefits that it can have. Now, what is it? You may have guessed, olive oil! Unlike some of the more unhealthy fat products, olive oil is very healthy and even nutritious since it offers cancer-fighting antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is a monounsaturated
fat, which explains its healthy traits. The fact that it can actually lower bad cholesterol in the body makes it a heart-healthy food.Olive oil is sold in three different varieties - extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, and olive oil. For the average consumer shopping in the grocery store, the only obvious differences between these three varieties is color and flavor. These differences, though, are caused by several things.

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Attitudes in the U.S are changing when it comes to olive oil, where it could scarcely be found 20 years ago. And this growing trend is having a positive impact on our health. Contained within olive oil are antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, and research has shown that these have the capability of lowering bad cholesterol levels, thus reducing the risk of heart disease. It is also believed that the antioxidants found in extra virgin and virgin olive oils may protect against cancer, another good reason to start using olive oil. The same certainly can not be said about butter.

The most common types of olive oil include extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil and olive oil. The extraction method used, and the fatty acid content determines how each oil is classified. When an oil is extracted and bottled without any other processing taking place, it is classed as extra virgin or virgin olive oil. If a combination of refined virgin olive oil and olive oil is bottled, it is known simply as olive oil. This mixture is sometimes known as pure olive oil. Labeling of olive oil is regulated by the International Olive Oil Council (www.internationaloliveoil.org), so you can be assured of what you are buying.

Olive oil flavor is heavily influenced by the area the olives are grown in, and the season that they are harvested in. Olive oil flavor comes from a combination of the olives, free fatty acids, minerals, sterols and pigments and vitamins. The highest percentage of these, and therefore the olive oil with the most flavor, is extra virgin olive oil. To get the best from this olive oil flavor, it is best used uncooked in salad dressings, poured over cooked foods or as a dipping condiment. For a slightly milder olive oil flavor, try virgin olive oil. For cooking and baking, pure olive oil should be used, as it has the least flavor, and is generally the least expensive.

Over time, olive oil will go rancid, and this process will be sped up if it is exposed to air, heat and light. Rancid olive oils are not harmful if consumed, but obviously they lose the flavor that they are usually bought
for. To help ensure a long shelf life, store olive oil in a cool, dark place, and never near the stove. Dark colored bottles and metal cans provide the best storage containers, and large containers can be decanted into smaller containers. If you live in a warm area and don’t utilize air conditioning, you can store olive oil in the refrigerator. However, the oil will begin to take on a solid, cloudy form. The olive oil is still usable, it just needs to be returned to room temperature.

Instead of chocolates or wine, consider a good bottle of olive oil the next time you are invited as a guest to someone’s house. If you cook extensively, invest in an expensive bottle of extra virgin olive oil, and you will immediately notice the flavor difference.

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Mother’s Day gourmet gift ideas for the gourmet kitchen. Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May; this year, May 13, so if you are shopping for a Mother’s Day gift, you may want to make a note on the calendar a week or so ahead of time. Give yourself a little extra time to shop for a unique Mother’s Day gift that will be more than just an arrangement of flowers and a card. Mother’s Day gourmet gifts are a great selection for your mother, grandmother, or mother-in-law. A gourmet Mother’s Day gift can be a unique kitchen item, a helpful culinary tool, or delicious imported gourmet condiments that she can use over and over while cooking.

One unique Mother’s Day gift for the kitchen is an oil and vinegar cruet set. Non-drip drizzler sets for olive oil and balsamic vinegar are a welcome addition to any kitchen or dining table. Olive oil is known for the bothersome drip down the side of the bottle and on fine table linens. The matching pair of drizzle cruets dispense both oil and vinegar easily and without a mess. The handblown glass design offers European style with practical filling and easy drizzling of fine oils and flavored vinegars. A cruet set can be purchased along with bottles of award winning olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar.

Oil and vinegar gift sets can be sent by Priority Mail in time for Mother’s Day. Cold pressed Spanish olive oil is a delightful condiment as well as a healthy alternative to nominal cooking oils, margarine, and nonstick cooking sprays. Aged Italian balsamic vinegar is a delicious taste and flavor to drizzle over meats, poultry, and fish. Gourmet balsamic vinegar is the perfect gourmet gift for Mother’s Day. It is becoming more popular to give a bottle of balsamic vinegar, rather than a bottle of red or white wine; a bottle of balsamic vinegar will last a lot longer too.

Gourmet oil and vinegar is an excellent Mother’s Day gift selection, as they are imported accoutrements that mom might not necessarily purchase on her own. Preparing dishes with balsamic vinegar will add new flavor to old recipes. With a simple wire whisk or a kitchen blender, an oil and vinegar vinaigrette can be made numerous ways, providing spice and panache to salad dressings and marinades.

If your mother loves to cook Italian cuisine, she will enjoy imported olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar to make pastas, dressings, and the homemade bread dipping sauces.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with kindness and consideration. A gourmet gift shows your appreciation and gratitude in a tasteful way. Regardless of which gift you decide to get your mother or grandmother on Mother’s Day, be sure to take time out for her on Sunday. You may consider calling her or even visiting her in person. One of the best Mother’s Day gifts of all, is hearing from family that tells her how much she is loved and thought of.

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Oil and Vinegar, the animated movie

For those who may not think an olive oil drizzler that leaks, is a great concern. View animated short movie ‘Oil and Vinegar’

Award winning: Oil & Vinegar, qualified for consideration for an Academy Award, has received international acclaim at film festivals…

Produced and Directed by:
Mike Blum

(copyright 1999 Pipsqueaks Films)

Animated Film Reviews:
“…this enchanting film’s beautiful animation can weave its spell…4 Stars!”: FilmThreat.com
“Cutting-edge animation, as well as a funny script, makes Oil & Vinegar a great short.”: FilmsOn.com
“…dramatic!”: Animation World Magazine
“…cute, clever…Just what you hope for in a short…”: Let’s Schmooze.com
2nd Place: Best Animation at the Pacific Coast Film Festival
Audience top ten at Hardshare FilmFest.
‘Oil & Vinegar’ is U. Grad’s Baby: Salt Lake City Tribune

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Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil are regarded as a healthy mixture by nutritionist and food professionals. Balsamic vinaigrettes are a healthy salad dressing option to that of bottled commercial salad dressings that have been processed and have many ingredients that are not favorable to a healthy diet. Most people rave about the flavor combination and full-bodied taste a balsamic vinaigrette brings to a salad. The balsamic vinaigrette has became the favorite salad dressing recommended by dietitians. A mixture of balsamic vinegar and olive oil offers antioxidant ingredients and heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. As an alternative to commercial processed salad dressings, a fresh made balsamic vinaigrette can help lower cholesterol levels. Balsamic vinegar is fat-free, high in potassium, and boasts of flavor unlike any other vinegar.

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Olive oil health benefits are attributed to olive oil’s high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and also its high content of antioxidants. Extra virgin olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols. No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as extra virgin olive oil, specifically oleic acid. Most other vegetable oils may need to be detoxified and refined. Another of the health benefits of olive oil is that cold, or fresh pressed extra virgin olive oil can be consumed immediately and will retain the natural olive variety flavor, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants of the ripe olives. It is important to know many smaller estate olive producers hand pick the olives to preserve their freshness and maintain a high quality of harvest.

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Oil and vinegar condiments and cooking uses are becoming increasingly popular. Oil and vinegar recipes, along with oil and vinegar health benefits are extremely diverse and volumes can be written about them. An oil and vinegar cruet is more common in the gourmet kitchen, and used more frequently. The culinary category of oil and vinegar has been expanded with new products brought about by new manufacturing producers and processes. Oil and vinegar products have increased dramatically with the arrival of new flavored oils and infused oils, along with flavored vinegars and balsamic vinegars. Vinegar and oil may seem to be simple pantry staples, but they are more than that. Oil and vinegar are ingredients that many of us use nearly every day. Oil and vinegar appears in recipes of nearly all the cuisines of the world. The mixtures of oil and vinegar result in delicious dressings, toppings, sauces, vinaigrettes, and marinades. Scientific research that has examined the health benefits of olive oil, and also that of vinegar is now revealing data that substantiates a multitude of healthy advantages for those people who consume cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and also quality produced vinegar. Olive oil has long been associated with the Mediterranean Diet. As a staple ingredient of the Mediterranean Diet, extra virgin olive oil ads flavor and health benefits to this cuisine. Dietary professionals have taken notice that those people who eat a Mediterranean Diet, have shown a remarkable healthy lifestyle. Olive oil is known to have high levels of antioxidants, and is recognized for its natural composition of monounsaturated fatty acids, which unlike animal fats, is healthy for you. Historically vinegar has been used as a tonic for poor health, as a preservative for canning and pickling, and its acidic taste is used extensively for culinary purposes. Quality vinegar will give characteristics such as tartness or a subtle sour taste to recipes such as vinaigrettes and marinades. A marinade that contains vinegar as an ingredient should also include a combination of oil, preferably olive oil, and herbs and spices. Vinegar in one’s diet is a detoxification agent, and the acetic acid increases metabolism and helps burn or dissolve fats in the body.

Increasing oil and vinegar in one’s diet will continue to promote health especially when combined with fresh fruits and vegetables. Many gourmet chefs are producing oil and vinegar recipes that are delicious and healthy without sacrificing exquisite taste. Oil and vinegar cruets are now popular for gift selections.

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