The Olive Tree: About Olives and Olive Oil

ALEA EUROPAEA or The Olive Tree is a “drought resistant” evergreen tree that as been in existence and as flourished through the ages. The Biblical account of Noah’s flood states that “On the seventh day Noah sent out a dove and in the evening the dove returned with a fresh Olive Leaf in it’s beak.

The Olive Tree is native to the Mediterranean, Asia and Africa. It grows to a maximum height of 49 feet except for an Italian variety known as Piciottana that may strive to be taller. The fruit of the Alea Europaea is called Olives and is harvested in the green -purple stage. Like Grapes and Wines there are over 1000 variety of Olives each exuding their own flavors from the vegetation surrounding them.

8 BENEFITS OF CONSUMING OLIVE OIL

The potential health benefits of consuming Olives is countless. Here are a few:

8 Benefits of consuming olive oil

REDUCE ALLERGIES
PROMOTES DIGESTIVE HEALTH
PROMOTES HEALTHY HAIR GROWTH
A GOOD SOURCE OF IRON
REDUCE BELLY FAT
IMPROVES NIGHT VISION
IMPROVES APPEARANCE OF THE SKIN
AID IN THE PREVENTION OF HEART DISEASE

Why is Olive Oil Considered healthy?

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

There are many grades of Olive Oils. The grading factor depends on how it is harvested and processed. The “first” oil extracted from fresh Olives via Cold Press, Grindstone or other mechanical means without use of solvents or heat produces the highest quality oil known as the Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

In ancient times Olive Oil was known as the Nectar Of The Gods or Liquid Gold. The nutritional , medicinal and aesthetic properties are endless. Olive Oil contains:

ANTIOXIDANTS

FLAVANOIDS

OMEGA 9

AMINO ACIDS

CHOLINE

SQUALENE

OLEOCANTHAL

VITAMIN A AND K IN HIGH QUANTITIES

VITAMIN C AND E

MINERALS- CALCIUM, IRON, SODIUM, MAGNESIUM, POTASSIUM, PHOSPHORUS ETC

HOW TO SHOP FOR GOOD QUALITY EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

It must be labelled “Extra Virgin Olive Oil”
Labelled 100% Natural
Look for batch numbers
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is sold in dark bottles to protect the oil from harmful UV light
Look for an harvest date
It should also have an expiration date
Origin or Estate name

THE AT HOME TEST

Place Extra Virgin Olive Oil in The refrigerator – It should harden

Olive Oil comes in many variety so the rest is basically up to your needs as well as your taste buds.

SOME BENEFITS AND USES OF EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

CLEANSER – Remove Mascara, Color Stay Lipsticks and overall makeup removal
EYELASH – To enhance eyelash growth grease fingers and gentle massage lashes
NAILS – Strengthener
CHAPPED HEELS AND ELBOWS -After shower massage affected area
MOISTURIZER – Use daily to moisturize, hydrate and repair the skin to maintain a natural healthy glow
HAIR TREATMENT – Apply to damp hair, massage to ensure full coverage, cover hair with steam cap for about 15 minutes. Shampoo and style as desired. This will hydrate, soften and strengthen the hair promoting full and healthy hair

OTHER USES INCLUDES

BREASTFEEDING – Used to sooth and/or heal irritated nipples

DENTAL HEALTH – Swishing Olive Oil or any oils in mouth is known as Oil Pulling. Swish for a few minutes daily to promote healthy teeth, gums and fresh breath.

OLIVE OIL TRIVIA

DID YOU KNOW:

USE OLIVE OIL TO KEEP WARM – Rubbing Olive Oil on the body helps to retain the body’s natural heat
OLIVE OIL IS SAID TO BE THE BEST FAT ON EARTH – According to The World Health Organization
OLIVE OIL WAS USED AS SOAP – Before the era of soap as we know it, Olive Oil was used to cleanse the body by way of soaking the body in the oil then scrapping the dead cell away using a Stigil
IN ANCIENT GREECE OLIVE OIL WAS CONSIDERED A DAILY SUSTENANCE
IN LEBANON THERE ARE 16 OLIVE TREES THAT ARE ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 5000 YEARS OLD, THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE SISTER OLIVE TREES OF NOAH
A BOTTLE OF OLIVE OIL FOR OVER US$14,000.00 IS UNHEARD OF? NO, MEET THE MOST EXPENSIVE OLIVE OIL IN THE WORLD “UTRA PREMIUM EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL” BY AWARD WINNING GREEK LUXURY OLIVE OIL BRAND LAMBDA. more