Health Benefits of Croatian Olive Oil
Due to its geographical location and the mild Mediterranean climate, Croatia is rich in olive groves whose fruits have been throughout the centuries a part of traditional food, especially for the population living near the sea.
The olive tree can reach a ripe old age and has the ability of auto renewal even in burnt areas. An olive tree on the Brioni islands is one of the oldest olive trees in the Mediterranean, and it is assumed that is about 1600 years old. Lunjske olive trees on Pag and those from Kaštel-Štafilić and from Korčula, which also can count more than a thousand summers with their fruit, full of yellow gold, deserve respect and special care.
The most common and most famous product of the olive is olive oil, which is of a very specific taste and a pleasant, almost fruity smell, and can be found in various shades of green, depending on the variety and the area from which the fruit comes. In Croatia, there are several varieties of olives, of which the most common are: oblica, rošulja, bjelica, lastovka, buža, levantinka, debela. The oil quality is evaluated by analysis and by tasters' evaluation, and, in the most prestigious international competitions, a number of Croatian olive oils have won gold medals.
Olive oil is one of the most respected foods and its health benefits are recognized by modern science too. It has a protective role in preventing cancer and a variety of malignant diseases and significantly contributes to the preservation of the circulatory system. It is good to skin, it helps healthy development of bones and brain tissue and due to a high content of antioxidants it is considered that olive oil slows down the ageing process.
The secret of the healing properties of olive oil is in its composition - it contains a large percentage (60-85%) of mono-unsaturated fatty acids or oleic acid, which is resistant to oxidation. It also contains carotene and chlorophyll which prevent oxidation of oils, and essential vitamins A, D, K, and E.
Olive oil is the perfect blend of many components that have powerful antioxidant effects and thus, when included in the diet, serve the skin as an aid in preventing the bad effects of ultra-violet rays. Oils are easier to digest than regular fats, including olive oils, which of all oils is the most easily digested. It is believed that it is just as digestible as breast milk.
In addition to preserving beauty and health, olive oil is a must in the kitchen, where it is used in the preparation of savoury dishes, especially fish and meat with vegetables, and it is traditional and an essential ingredient in making authentic homemade cakes. So the secret of longevity of people who live by the sea most likely lies in the regular consumption of fruits given to us by this precious tree.
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