From mild cases to extensive breakouts, acne can be the dirty root of our self-consciousness. Hormones, diet, toxins, stress and medications are all causes of acne, which appear in the form of small bumps to larger cysts. When follicles in our skin become blocked, an infection causes the development of pimples. But whatever their size and shape, no one feels at their best with a breakout. According to ancient remedy, the inflammation of blocked pores can be cured by a product more simple than your average, expensive face wash: olive oil.
Read more »

Weight loss gurus have long advocated drinking extra water as a strategy for putting the kibosh on extraneous snacking, but a fabled fruit of the Mediterranean may contain the key to the same secret. A recent study suggests that supplementing a diet with olive oil promotes feelings of fullness between meals, eliminating the urge to overindulge in unnecessary calories.
Read more »

Does Alzheimer’s and/or other dementia-causing diseases tend to run in your family? There’s one possible antidote that you might already have in your kitchen cabinet: olive oil. A recent study at the University of Louisiana has found evidence that oleocanthal, a compound found in extra virgin olive oil, works to protect nerve cells from beta amyloid, a peptide related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Read more »

Before balsamic vinegar gained popularity as a gourmet condiment, it was popularly used as a medicine. Early Italians prized balsamic vinegar for its natural qualities, and modern dietitians note that adding balsamic vinegar to a diet can effectively treat or improve a number of health conditions.

For example, balsamic vinegar is an excellent remedy for:

Improving Digestion – Balsamic vinegar compels your body to produce pepsin, the stomach’s main digestive enzyme. If you’re eating complex foods with a lot of proteins, pepsin is essential for healthy digestion.
Read more »

Prized throughout the world for its pure taste and well-documented health benefits, extra virgin olive oil is actually fairly hard to locate. Your local supermarket probably has dozens of bottles labeled “extra virgin,” but unless you live in Italy or another country that insists on truth in labeling, these bottles probably don’t offer the true experience.

Real extra virgin olive oil has an acidity of no more than 0.8 percent and is created through a pure production process with no additives. There’s also a subjective component to extra olive oil classification; in order to earn an “extra virgin” classification from the International Olive Council, an oil must have “a superior taste.”
Read more »

Olive oil is a fragile condiment, but in the proper conditions, it stores well in an unopened bottle for up to two years. To prevent your olive oil from oxidizing, you need to know about potential risk factors and choose a safe place to store it.

Here are a few storage tips to keep in mind the next time you pay for a high-quality bottle of virgin or extra virgin olive oil.
Read more »

Balsamic vinegar was considered a medicine for years before it gained popularity as a condiment. While some of the purported health benefits of fine balsamic vinegar failed to shake out–it can’t cure the common cold, for instance–new research suggests that vinegar can help you lose weight.

Before you run out to buy a few 100-gallon drums of the stuff, however, you should know that balsamic vinegar doesn’t magically eat through fat. In order to really lose weight, you need a balanced diet and a regular exercise schedule.

Nevertheless, a high-quality vinegar can be a helpful calorie cutting tool and appetite suppressant. Here’s what you need to know.
Read more »

Olive oil was originally used as a medicine for everything from digestive problems to skin blemishes. While it isn’t quite the magical cure-all substance that the early Italians believed, olive oil has numerous health benefits, and as part of your regular diet, high-quality oils can potentially improve your lifespan.

Here’s a look at a few of the most substantial health benefits of olive oil.

Olive Oil is an Anti-Inflammatory Condiment — Many of the fats that you consume on a daily basis cause inflammation, which can lead to pain, feelings of bloating and even serious health issues down the line. Olive oil is generally though of as a healthy fat because of its polyphenols, compounds that fight inflammation.
Read more »

Balsamic vinegar is an extremely popular and healthy condiment used on salads, meats, fish and nearly every other food imaginable. Here are a few surprising facts about one of Italy’s most famous exports.

1. Balsamic vinegar was once a medicine. Early Italians considered the product a reliable serum for everything from headaches to serious illnesses, but only merchants, royalty and other rich individuals could afford it. Balsamic vinegar wasn’t considered a food product for hundreds of years.

2. In the 1500s, Balsamic vinegar became a popular wedding gift in Modena, a tradition that continues today.

3. Cask woods directly affects the taste of fine vinegar. The most popular woods include cherry and chestnut, although preference for different types of casks vary throughout Italy.
Read more »