Appeal of the Mediterranean diet is owed to the many benefits (and uses) of olive oil

Olive oil is a common product with a wealth of benefits    Photo: by WordRidden

The Mediterranean diet has been recently revered as a healthier alternative to other dieting options. This diet suggest that legumes, fruits, vegetables, and starchy foods be consumed in larger proportions to fish and poultry, which should be enjoyed two/three times a week, and red meat a few times a month.
However, the success of the Mediterranean diet depends upon the frequent consumption of olive oil! Olive oil has many positive benefits:
It contains vitamin E, a naturally occurring antioxidant.
It contains high levels of monounsaturated fats, which do not increase LDL levels (so called "bad cholesterol" in the blood linked with clogged arteries/fatty deposits).
In fact, the presence of monounsaturated fats in the body reduces the levels of bad cholesterol, and concurrently increases HDL ("good cholesterol") levels.
Consuming a quantity equivalent to a spoonful of olive oil a day helps to regulate blood sugar (which combats diabetes and obesity), and aids positively in the metabolic functions of the peptic digestive system. 

Cooking with olive oil is highly recommended, as it retains its properties when exposed to heat. Olive oil does not oxidize, because it is considered a ‘high temperature oil', unlike seed oils, which contain large portions of polyunsaturated fats and therefore oxidize when exposed to high temperatures, producing toxic harmful substances.
Olive oil has a number of uses outside the kitchen! Try it on hair, to heal brittle ends and nourish the scalp. Try it on skin: its high vitamin E content is the perfect moisturizer to nourish a dry complexion. Try it in an oil lamp! The therapeutic effects of burning olive oil are considered to be spiritually inviting, and are used in churches to this day: the aroma is pleasant, and even considered a mild sedative (for those who have trouble sleeping).