- Consuming more than 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil per day was associated with lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative disease and respiratory disease
- Substituting 10 grams/day of other fats, such as margarine, butter & mayonnaise with olive oil was associated with up to a 34% lower risk of death
Here is the study itself And here is an article that summarizes it
And the quintessential dish representing the Mediterranean diet is the authentic Greek Salad as found in Greece–it is very simple to make, based on fresh vegetables with plenty of EVOO. In Greece it is called Horiatiki (or village salad). It is the perfect dish for a hot summer day and with bread, it can be a complete meal. The American version is nowhere to be found in Greece! They would never put lettuce with fresh tomato or any kind of vinaigrette (there is another salad for lettuce that is just Romaine, fresh onion and dill with EVOO, red wine vinegar and salt). The secret of this delicious and healthy salad is to have very fresh seasonal ingredients, Greek imported feta & excellent EVOO–like our EVGE! Here is the recipe:
Salad for 4:
2 vine ripened tomato: cut into bitesize cubes
1 English /hothouse (the long one–or any seedless, such as Persian) cucumber: halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2″ slices
1/2 green bell pepper: sliced
1/4 red onion: sliced
Kalamata olives
Slice of imported Greek feta
EVGE EVOO
Salt and oregano
Layer starting with the cucumbers–salt & oregano, then onions and peppers, then tomatoes– salt & oregano, onions & peppers until the bowl is full. Coat generously with EVOO, top with feta–put oregano and more EVOO and finally Kalamata olives. Enjoy with fresh bread or rusks (to soak up all the deliciousness at the bottom of the bowl!!). There is actually a word for this sopping up with bread–it’s called papara and it’s the most enjoyable part of finishing off any dish!!
