New Year, New You
Golden Isles Olive Oil understands and recognizes that eating for a healthier lifestyle doesn’t need to be boring. Adopting an improved new you can be easy and delicious. Take control of your health while enjoying yourself along the way. By making a few simple lifestyle adjustments and adopting a Mediterranean approach to your diet, you can learn to makeover your meals and reap the health benefits. It is fuel for your body. You will feel better, have more energy and live longer.
The Mediterranean Diet has long been supported by the medical community as the world’s healthiest diet. Research shows that those that follow a Mediterranean style diet have about a 20 percent increased chance of living longer compared with their non-Mediterranean-eating counterparts. This means in practice that older people who eat a Mediterranean diet live an estimated 2-3 years longer than those who don’t. This lifestyle features fish and poultry, lean sources of protein over red meat. Red wine is consumed regularly but in moderate amounts. It is abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
A cornerstone of this diet is the intake of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. People in the Mediterranean consume an average of 20 liters of olive oil a year. In contrast the average American will consume +/- 1 liter per year.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is loaded with health benefits. It contains the highest level of antioxidant polyphenols and oleic acid. It is rich in monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats are good for your brain and heart. People who use high-quality, extra-virgin olive oil in place of other fats have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and asthma. Additionally, according to the FDA, consuming about two tablespoons of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Who wouldn’t want the benefits of all that?
If the idea of overhauling your entire way of shopping and eating seems daunting, start small. Wiping the slate entirely clean may not be necessary. Instead, take steps toward eating more in the Mediterranean-style. Choose a strategy and make it a habit.
First, swap oils. Replacing hydrogenated or saturated fats from animal products with extra-virgin olive oil when possible can help many Americans take the right steps toward a healthier life and heart.
Take advantage of low-calorie add-ins and creative options to keep things from getting stagnant. With over 60 flavors of fused and infused Extra Virgin Olive Oils and beautifully aged Balsamic, Golden Isles Olive Oil offers plenty of variety and experimentation. A perfect pairing awaits for every dish.
Use our olive oil in homemade salad dressings and vinaigrettes. We use it as wonderful marinades for our protein. Drizzle it on finished dishes like fish or chicken to boost flavor. We carry a vegan, non-GMO and non-dairy Butter Olive Oil. Swap butter for our olive oil sprinkled over roasted vegetables, mixed with mashed potatoes, pasta, and more.
Have fun with it. In addition to our oils and balsamic, we offer a wide selection of healthy gourmet products. Come on in and taste the difference. Cheers to a healthier new you!
Donna MacPherson, Olive Oil Sommelier
Golden Isles Olive Oil, 306 Redfern Village, St. Simons Island, 912.602.9736 goldenislesoliveoil.com