olive oil Archives - Carma's Cookery

Benefits of Olive oil

Olive oil is known to be rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. Created by pressing whole olives, this oil is said to have some excellent benefits. These types of acids are healthy alternatives to trans fats and saturated fats. Olive oil and its components are meant to aid in the prevention of cardiovascular issues like stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is also said to help reduce inflammation and reduce problems associated with the lining of particular blood vessels.

Pricing

Olive oil is usually reasonably priced. It can be found in most supermarket stores. Oil that is an extra virgin or that is highly refined can be a bit more expensive, but the flavors of these types are said to be more robust. Europe has a vast region dedicated to growing olives to produce oil, and if crops are affected by disease or inclement weather, it can influence the pricing of the oil. Other oils can be substituted, but some will be higher priced, such as truffle oil. Olive oil is easy to find and is priced well for consumers.

Appearance

Olive oil is usually in a container that is glass or plastic. It should be a green color, and you should be able to see through it. Try to avoid oil that is very yellowish. Cloudiness in the oil is acceptable, as this might mean that it is unfiltered. The labels on the bottles should tell you this, and also if it is virgin or extra virgin olive oil.

Cooking with Olive Oil

The primary use of olive oil is for cooking purposes. People use oil to fry or to cook fish or vegetables. Some drizzle the oil over pieces of bread or on salads too. It is a popular butter-replacement choice and is also used in mashed and on baked potatoes. Olive oil can be added to certain sauces to create an excellent flavor. It can also serve as a healthy substitute for other ingredients. Stir Frying or pan-frying vegetables with olive oil is commonly done, and you can also use a little over eggs and toast or drizzle some over rice. It is used in many different recipes and can add moisture and flavor to make an incredible meal.

Quantity

Olive oil can be used in specific quantities to reap the maximum health benefits. If recipes call for more or less, then use the recommended amount to make your meal properly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests that two tablespoons per day are the recommended amount. It is a recommended quantity, not a requirement. You can get your two tablespoons by cooking with the oil, using it on your salad, in a smoothie, in soup, or any other way you need for your meals.

Olive oil should be used in moderation in your cooking and your meals. Too much of it may ruin not only the taste of your food but also may cause some issues, as it increases the amount of the oil that your body isn’t used to. Recipes may call for specific amounts of the oil, and that should be followed. Avoid drowning all your food items in it. A few tablespoons on your food or in your cooking can boost the flavor and deliver some excellent health benefits.

About the Author

Sarah writes for Simmer and Zest. She loves to cook, but she also likes to dig deeper and find out how to make the most out of one’s kitchen.

Organic Living Tips: Drinking water and more

There is so much processed food, additives and other “junk” in our food these days. That’s why there is a growing movement to eat organic foods.

In the U.S., organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food, in general, is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.

So what does that say about non-organic food? I shudder to think.

So, with this post I’m starting a series of posts that I’ll publish over the next several weeks that will provide you with ideas for living a more organic life.

Tip 1. Reduce the fluoride in your water.
Faucet water contains fluoride in all 50 states. To remove it, purchase a reverse osmosis filter. A Britta filter won’t be enough.

Just so you know what kinds of effects too much fluoride can have, let me share my story. From the age of 3 to 5, I lived in East Africa. For health reasons, the fluoride content of the water there was very high. This caused a greenish-black substance to grow on my teeth. In fact, many children of the time had black teeth.

When we returned to the States, I had to have my teeth cleaned of this substance every three months for several years. I even had to use non-fluoride toothpaste, and did so until finding such a toothpaste became near impossible.

Tip 2. Reduce the chlorine in your water.
Chlorine is used in drinking water to combat microbial contamination. However, it can react with organic matter in the water and form dangerous, carcinogenic Trihalomethanes. In 1992, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that people who regularly drink tap water containing high levels of chlorine by-products have a greater risk of developing bladder and rectal cancers than people who drink unchlorinated water.

The good news is that chlorine in water will evaporate after a few hours. So, to get rid of the Trihalomethanes, use a water pitcher with a carbon filter and then leave it in your fridge overnight to let the chlorine evaporate.

Tip 3. Stop using plastic water bottles.
Though Nalgene bottles are BPA-free, they’ve been found to leech other chemicals. Use glass bottles to be 100% safe. This is especially true if you are leaving your water bottle in the car. When your car, and therefore the water, heats up, it increases the speed of the leeching. If you can’t use a glass bottle for the car, find one of the stainless steel water bottles currently on the market.

Tip 4. Don’t bother with anti-bacterial soap.
Avoid soap labeled as “anti-bacterial.” First, pretty much all soap will kill bacteria. And second, residue on dishes and hands from these “special” soaps can get into your stomach and kill your “good bacteria.”

Tip 5. Use coconut oil to cook with.
Cooking with coconut oil is better than olive oil. It has more Omega-3s and doesn’t oxidize in sunlight or high temperatures. Olive oil is better used for flavor than for cooking; and if used in cooking, only at low temperatures.

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.

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