Health recommendations and what’s on trend seems to change as frequently as the days of the week. In fact there are so many different diets, diet books, weight loss programs, weight loss drinks, shakes and bars that it’s no surprise the weight loss products industry is predicted to reach AUS$327.6 million and weight loss counselling services are predicted to reach AUS$385.8 in the 2018-2019 period in Australia; according to IBISWorld.

Although the diet and weight loss industries are enormous, obesity rates and complications due to overweight-ness continue to be an issue. Australia is a lucky country with opportunities aplenty, clean water, fresh air and an abundance in fresh food. However there is a discrepancy between health messages/promotion and actual behaviours. Studies have told us that just because people are told eating more fruit and vegetables is important for overall health, does not mean people will actually eat more fruits and vegetables. Old habits resurface and hectic schedules often override people’s intention of eating healthily.

However, is it really as simple as eating more fruit and vegetables? Let’s look a bit deeper…

On Pubmed, the online database of references and journals on life sciences and biomedical topics such as nutrition science, there are over 5000 sources attributing benefits to the Mediterranean diet. You may wonder why out of every diet, this one has been identified. The Mediterranean diet was first characterised in the 1960’s as a heart protective diet philosophy. Since the 1960’s the diet has been trialled in many different ways and methods with different hypotheses and questions. It is the only dietary lifestyle that consistently displays beneficial effects to the human biology and internal workings.

Although it began with a heart health focus; and the heart health benefit continues to be of relevance. There are now many more varied and interesting outcomes that seem to occur with regular adherence to this dietary pattern and intake. For example, one study published in June 2018 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology showed that eating a Mediterranean diet that includes moderate levels of red meat and a low intake of sugar sweetened beverages was related to a reduced risk of colorectal polyps. This is very important as colorectal polyps may become cancerous and cause colon/bowel cancers. Another recent study published in June 2018 in Gastroenterology showed that a Mediterranean diet can provide support to those suffering functional digestive disorders and upsets. This is extraordinary considering the number of individuals that suffer with IBS, Cron’s and other gastrointestinal conditions.

If that wasn’t enough, wait there is more… The Mediterranean diet has been positively implicated in supporting the feeling of fullness after a meal. This is particularly important to reduce unnecessary snacking, control blood sugar levels and assist in weight loss in overweight and obese patients. Usually when there is a health benefit associated with a particular meal plan or dietary advice, people are sceptical when the benefits are too varied or seem to positive. However, considering the Mediterranean diet has been labelled since the 1960’s and there is a long list of research and literature on the topic, we can see from a scientific perspective there are both short and long term benefits from consuming such a lifestyle.

So you see, the health benefits of following a Mediterranean diet are varied and helpful. But you may be asking what is a Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is characterised by eating large amounts of fresh vegetables that are eaten raw in salads and also baked in warming dishes such as eggplant with a thick tomato stew, fruits, whole-grains such as wholewheat pasta and dense breads, nuts and seeds, legumes and beans, fish and a plentiful amount of olive oil. In fact, the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet is extra virgin olive oil which is used as a salad dressing, for dipping into bread and drizzled over fish and baked dishes for extra flavour and richness.

In Australia we are currently bombarded with an array of oils and their supposed health benefits. However, what cannot be overlooked is the nutritional content of Olive Oil, especially extra virgin olive oil and the positive impact it has on health. Extra virgin olive oil is a good source of vitamin E which is important for supporting the immune system. It is also rich in monounsaturated fats called “good fats” which are important for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, lowering “bad cholesterol” and supporting the health of arteries for circulation. All of this supports the heart health benefit from the total Mediterranean diet. The extra virgin olive oil fats also lubricates bones and joints which is especially important during the colder months when cold temperatures tend to stiffen bones and joints.

In considering all of this information, you may be curious whether all extra virgin olive oils are created equally. The simple answer is no they are not. There are various degrees of quality which are related firstly to the quality of olives used in the initial production and also how well the nutritional benefits are extracted during the olive oil ‘squeezing’ during the oil making phase. At Living Pure we pride ourself on using the finest olives with the highest quality, highest levels of nutrition and most premium flavour. We do not negotiate on flavour, nutrition or oil quality and that is why we are proud to place our name on the oil we sell.

There have been some queries whether the most superior olive oil must come from the Mediterranean region, we can assure you it does not. The conditions that our Living Pure Olive Oils are created within; are of the highest level. We have won a number of medals and continue to be critical of our processes and systems to ensure our clients are also receiving the absolute best and finest grade of oils. We invite you to check out the delicious recipes in our Recipe section to see how delicious and nutritious our Living Pure Extra Virgin Olive Oils are.

Posted on July 17, 2018

Healthy Living and Oils