Having grown up on the Mediterranean, I was thankful that Olive Oil is on our list of Yes Foods! I don't think I could have given it up. Olive oil has a wide range of culinary and therapeutic uses. When I was young and sprained my foot or ankle, Mom would mix olive oil with crushed up 'styptic pencils' to make a paste which she slathered on my foot/ankle and wrapped with gauze. It took down the swelling and helped me heal. (Styptics are a specific type of anti-hemorrhagic agent that work by contracting tissue to seal injured blood vessels.) She also used a drop or two when we had a mild earache.
Well, now Olive oil is a star in the cancer fighting arena! The main active molecules in olive oil have shown antioxidant activity. Virgin olive oil contains the highest levels of these molecules.
Oleic acid has shown activity in cancer prevention, while squalene has also been identified as having anti-cancer effects. Research has shown that consuming olive oil is beneficial for colon cancer as well as breast cancer.
I don't use any other oil for salads and it's wonderful for dipping bread in, as you must know. I substitute it for vegetable oil in many baking recipes and to top Hummus (another amazing food that I will discuss in the Recipe section.)
~ Dip it! ♥