More Than A Salad Dressing, Olive Oil, The Health And Medical Benefits

An Old Remedy with New Uses

For the last several years I've only cooked with olive oil. I started this after watching a news show and also reading some other material about the life span of Greeks and those who use olive oil as a main fat in their diets. Because my husband and I love Greek food and pastas, it was an easy transition. We don't eat any red meat or pork, but do consume a lot of fish and some chicken. But everything I cook is prepared using olive oil.

I've also used olive oil on my skin for many, many years. My skin just soaks it up. Unlike baby oil, it penetrates into the skin and does not give you that "greasy" feeling. We also use it as a base for making our own massage oils. We simply add to olive oil as needed. For example, if I have an upset stomache, I'll add peppermint oil and rub on my stomach for soothing. If we have sore muscles, we may add lavender to the oil and rub our bodies down. For energizing we may mix a little lemon oil with olive oil or even rosemary. It's my first line of defense along with prayer when anyone in our household is not feeling well.

Recently however I discovered another use for olive oil. My husband and I regularly drink aloe vera juice and try to also take cod liver oil. The new cod liver oils are not bad but can still be a little gaggy. From recent readings, I've discovered that olive oil is just as beneficial as cod liver oil in helping with the regulation of blood pressure and keeping the arteries clean, etc.