Tag Archives: Olive Oil

Culture: Artisan Olive Oil Soap In Tripoli, Lebanon

Insider Business (July 28, 2023) – Artisans have been producing traditional olive oil soap at Masbanat Awaida for over 140 years. A century ago, there were dozens of soap factories like this in Tripoli, Lebanon. Today, Masbanat Awaida is the only one remaining.

Greece Views: Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Made In Messinia

The Messinia in the Peloponnese, Greece, produces what is considered the finest olive oil in the world. It’s made from the Koroneiki olive, a small but rich and aromatic olive. Together with a cold extraction and a slow fermentation process, Koroneiki olive oil tastes like no other — a true nectar of the gods. We follow olive-oil taster Dimitra Mathiopoulou at her family’s olive groves and mill to find out how Koroneiki olive oil is harvested and extracted.

Health: Foods That Fight Inflammation (Harvard)

Bicycle Tours: Olive Oil Tasting In Istria, Croatia

Follow travel vlogger Eva zu Beck to the beautiful region of Istria in Croatia. Join her as she strolls around the medieval village of Motovun, takes you on an e-bike trip through the green mountains of the Istrian peninsula and learns about the olive oil tradition in the region.

Culinary Arts: Tomato, Bell Pepper, Olive Oil & Pecorino Cheese Pasta

4 ingredients: olive oil, one tomato, one juicy bell pepper and pecorino cheese. The tomato adds acidity, the bell pepper adds sweetness and fruitiness, the olive oil makes the sauce creamy and adds a bit of bitterness, the pecorino cheese provides salt and umami flavor.

Health: ‘Top Five Diets’ Ranked – “Keep It Simple”

January 6, 2021

Every year, as millions of people around the world forge new resolutions to eat healthier and lose weight, US News & World Report releases a conveniently timed ranking of the best diets. A panel of experts in obesity, nutrition, diabetes, heart disease, and food psychology rigorously rate each of 39 diets on seven criteria:

  • Likelihood of losing significant weight in the first 12 months
  • Likelihood of losing significant weight over two years or more
  • Effectiveness for preventing diabetes (or as a maintenance diet)
  • Effectiveness for preventing heart disease (or for reducing risk for heart patients)
  • How easy it is to follow
  • Nutritional completeness
  • Health risks (like malnourishment, too-rapid weight loss, or specific nutrient deficiencies)

1. Mediterranean diet

Emphasis on fruits, veggies, whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, legumes, fish and other seafood. Eggs, cheese, and yogurt can be eaten in moderation. Keep red meats and sugar as treats.

2. DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet — TIE

Eat lots of fruits, veggies, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Avoid saturated fats and sugar.

2. Flexitarian diet — TIE

Be a vegetarian most of the time. Swap in beans, peas, or eggs for meats, and consume plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. You can look up more details because there’s actually a full meal plan involving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks to add up to a total 1500 calories per day. But feel free to also just swap in flexitarian meals ad hoc.

4. Weight Watchers

The first actual paid program on the list, WW uses a points system to guide dieters towards foods lower in sugar, saturated fat, and overall calories while consuming slightly more protein. There are a variety of paid WW plans, with the lowest being about $20 per month.

5. Mayo Clinic diet — TIE

A two-part system, with part one (‘Lose it!’) involving adding a healthy breakfast (i.e. fruits, veggies, whole grains, healthy fats) plus 30 minutes of exercise per day. You’re not allowed to eat while watching TV or consume sugar except what’s naturally found in fruit. Meat is only allowed in limited quantities, as is full-fat dairy. The second phase (‘Live it!’) is basically the first phase but with more flexibility. You aren’t realistically going to cut out sugar forever, and the Mayo Clinic diet acknowledges that. So the long term plan involves lots of whole grains, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats. Less saturated fats and sugar.

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