Last Updated on Monday, 01 June 2009 10:41
Written by Deb St. George
Friday, 10 April 2009 00:00
There are many health benefits
from eating Greek cuisine. Olive
oil, was
mentioned by
Hippocrates, who has
been called "the father of
medicine as a
good food source. Hippocrates,
was a physician trained at the
Dream temple of
Cos, and may have been a
pupil of
Herodicus.
Recent research has now proved
that the Greek Cuisine or diet
is generally healthy and
consuming olive oil can actually
help lower harmful LDL
cholesterol. Olive oil contains
antioxidants that discourage
artery clogging and chronic
diseases, including cancer.According to Dr. Antonia
Trichopoulou, the region's
cuisine doesn't just taste
wonderful -- it can also protect
your health and bring you a
longer life. A research team
headed by Trichopoulou found
that Greek adults who adhered to
their traditional styles of
eating had a 25 percent lower
risk of dying from coronary
disease and cancer than did
those who chose Western-style
diets.
Read more here...
Here is a favorite recipe:
GREEK YOGURT DIP
{mosimage}
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1 T. olive oil
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
salt to taste
1 t. lemon juice
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and
diced
Mix garlic and walnuts with olive oil. Stir in yogurt and salt. Add
lemon juice and diced cucumbers. Stir and chill thoroughly. Serve
with crackers or a variety of raw vegetables.
In Greece you'll often see
goats, sheep and cattle
traversing the steep mountain
side in search of food. Lemon
trees are grown and used to
create lemon chicken soup (avgolemono).
Lamb is a popular food dish and
is often cooked with rice and
vine leaves. Cheese made from
sheep or goat's milk is used to
flavor the the lamb, rice,
eggplant and other vegetables.
Greece is famous for its
aromatic
olive oil.
GREEK SALAD
1 clove garlic
1/2 head butter leaf lettuce, torn into
bite-sized pieces
1/4?bunch endive, thinly cut
6 romaine lettuce leaves, torn into
bite-size pieces
1 cucumber, thinly sliced
3 green onions, sliced
8 radishes, sliced
3 tomatoes, cut into eighths
18 Greek or ripe green olives
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
On a large platter rubbed with garlic, arrange greens in center.
Cover greens with a row of sliced cucumbers. Sprinkle cucumbers with
sliced onions. Surround those with sliced radishes. Encircle edge of
platter with tomato wedges. Garnish with olives and sprinkles of
feta cheese. Serves: 8.
"Drunk before a meal, olive oil
protects the stomach from
ulcers. It is also effective in
treating urinary tract
infections and gall bladder
problems. It is a perfect remedy
for gastritis in children; it
accelerates brain development
and strengthens the bones.
Feta Cheese Cruatades
3 loaves whole-wheat bread
3/4 cup melted margarine
1 8-ounce package lite cream
cheese
6 minced green onions
1/3 cup frozen chopped spinach,
cooked and squeezed dry
1/4 pound grated Monterey Jack
cheese
1/4 pound crumbled feta cheese
cup grated fresh Parmesan
cheese
milk (optional)
pimento for garnish
Roll sliced bread with a rolling pin to flatten. Brush with melted
margarine. Cut out circles with 2 3/4. inch cookie cutter, Press
into muffin tins. Bake at 350 [degrees] F for 8-10 minutes or until
lightly browned. Place cream cheese and green onions in a glass
bowl, Microwave 2-4 minutes until cheese is creamy and onions are
softened, Add spinach and three cheeses. Heat again until filling is
hot and bubbly. (Filling may be thinned with a little milk if
needed.) Spoon into crustade cups. Heat in a 350 [degrees] F oven
for 5-6 minutes. Garnish With pimento.
Olive
oil dissolves clots in
capillaries, has been found to
lower the degree of absorption
of edible fats, and consequently
slows down the aging process.
Olive oil is cholesterol-free."
Read more Here.