The virtues of olive oil

[brownie]

Love olive oil! It's great with (almost) anything edible. Its virtues seem boundless.

From the BBC:

OLIVE OIL ACID 'CUTS CANCER RISK'

Scientists in Chicago say they have uncovered why a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil seems to cut the risk of developing breast cancer.

The key is an ingredient of olive oil called oleic acid, they say.

Northwestern University laboratory tests on breast cancer cells showed the acid sharply cut levels of a gene thought to trigger the disease.

Cancer charities said the study, in Annals of Oncology, was interesting, but more research was needed.

The researchers found that oleic acid cut activity levels of a gene called Her-2/neu, which occurs at high levels in over a fifth of breast cancer patients and is associated with highly aggressive tumours with a poor prognosis.

Not only did oleic acid suppress activity of the gene, it also boosted the effectiveness of a breast cancer drug called herceptin, which has helped to prolong the lives of many patients.

Lead researcher Dr Javier Menendez said: "Our findings underpin epidemiological studies that show that the Mediterranean diet has significant protective effects against cancer, heart disease and ageing."

Caution urged

Dr Menendez said it might be possible to delay or prevent herceptin resistance in breast cancer patients carrying high levels of the rogue gene by including olive oil in their diet.

However, he stressed that lab results did not always translate into clinical practice.

Professor Tim Key, deputy director of Cancer Research UK's epidemiology unit, in Oxford, said: "The only established diet-related risk factors for breast cancer are obesity and alcohol.

"Some previous studies among women have suggested that Mediterranean-style diets might be associated with a lower risk, but the data are not consistent and there is currently no strong direct evidence that olive oil can reduce breast cancer risk.

"This new research shows interesting effects of olive oil on breast cancer cells under laboratory conditions, but much more work will be needed to determine whether this is of any importance for breast cancer in women."

Antonia Bunnin, of the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, agreed that it was not yet clear which dietary factors influenced the chance of developing breast cancer.

"More research is needed but the potential of oleic acid to alter the expression of certain genes associated with aggressive tumours - and increase the effectiveness of herceptin - is interesting.

"We look forward to further research in this area."

[catesta]

I'm with you, brownie.

I use olive oil for almost everything.

[JSngry]

Almost?

[Brandon Burke]

Almost?

Yeah, he uses Armor All on the dashboard. But other than that....

[brownie]

Almost?

Well, I would shy away from adding olive oil to a fruit salad

But I tasted olive oil ice cream and it was stunningly delicious

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

but the data are not consistent and there is currently no strong direct evidence that olive oil can reduce breast cancer risk.

That would seem echo our experience here at home....and I've been cooking with barrel-loads of quality unfiltered oil and Vitamin C packed yellow, red, green & orange bells for 16+ years. It's all in the genes. Back to the frozen food section of the market for General Tsao's Chicken w/Cashews!!

[A Lark Ascending]

I'm astonished you call it olive oil, given the American habit of misnaming fine foods! Cilantro indeed!

[JSngry]

You Brits call olive oil cilantro?

That's just wrong, Bev, WRONG.

[A Lark Ascending]

Oh, the limitless possibilities of misunderstanding the English language!

*************

Everyone I knows puts butter in mashed potatoes. I hate butter but always liked the idea of a creamier mash.

Solution? Olive Oil. Delicious.

I wonder if the Scots will start deep frying their Mars Bars in olive oil? One way to get offthe top of the European bad diet league.

[JSngry]

"Cilantro" is Spanish, I believe. Our language, like our people, aren't dangerously inbred. Yet. Except for certain rural communities and trailer parks.

So, you put it in your mashed potatoes too?

EX-cellent!

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Please cross-post this on the thread asking for Discwasher D4 fluid.

Mike

[A Lark Ascending]

I thought the USA had crossed Spain off its Xmas card list. Surely you should be renaming all things Spanish in the mother tongue of your one, true ally in recent tribulations?

[please take the latter with a pinch of cilantro!]

[BERIGAN]

Well, if you say so....

Man, can't believe someone didn't post this before me!

[mikeweil]

Almost?

Well, I would shy away from adding olive oil to a fruit salad

Guy, you should give this a try! I'm serious - just don't use too much and take care that it is a mild fruity brand. I have one from Sicily that's perfect for this.

Strawberries with just a little old balsamico and this is delicious!

p.s. Where's the place in Paris with the Olive ice cream?

[mikeweil]

Everyone I knows puts butter in mashed potatoes. I hate butter but always liked the idea of a creamier mash.

Solution? Olive Oil. Delicious.

I love this combination, too!

[porcy62]

You guys should try this.

ORANGE SALAD, directly from Sicily:

Take an orange, peel it, cut it in slices, add black olives, olive oil, a pinch of salt and, if you like it, fennel seeds.

Edited January 10, 2005 by porcy62

[catesta]

You guys should try this.

ORANGE SALAD, directly from Sicily:

Take an orange, peel it, cut it in slices, add black olives, olive oil, a pinch of salt and, if you like it, fennel seeds.

My grandmother used to make this for me when I was a young.

There are a few different variations. My great Aunt Lena used to put salt and pepper, parsley, and sometimes an onion.

Good stuff, but for me I had them hold the onions. B-)

[catesta]

Almost?

Well, I would shy away from adding olive oil to a fruit salad

Guy, you should give this a try! I'm serious - just don't use too much and take care that it is a mild fruity brand. I have one from Sicily that's perfect for this.

Strawberries with just a little old balsamico and this is delicious!

p.s. Where's the place in Paris with the Olive ice cream?

Mike, absolutely on the strawberries!

An all time favorite it is.

[brownie]

p.s. Where's the place in Paris with the Olive ice cream?

That was not in Paris but in lovely Avignon. At Christian Etienne restaurant that stands next to the Palais des Papes (excellent and rather reasonable prices for the quality).

I also tasted Camembert ice cream in Caen (surprisingly pleasant experience!).

Mike, I'll also try olive oil with strawberries next Summer!

[mikeweil]

You guys should try this.

ORANGE SALAD, directly from Sicily:

Take an orange, peel it, cut it in slices, add black olives, olive oil, a pinch of salt and, if you like it, fennel seeds. 

My grandmother used to make this for me when I was a young.

There are a few different variations. My great Aunt Lena used to put salt and pepper, parsley, and sometimes an onion.

Good stuff, but for me I had them hold the onions. B-)

There are endless veriations to this orange salad. It also works with very thin slice fresh fennel. Better without onions, IMHO.

[mikeweil]

I also tasted Camembert ice cream in Caen (surprisingly pleasant experience!).

Considering that the cooling of camembert is something to get killed for in France ... you know that Superdupont comic where he fights with Bruce Lee who downs him by serving Bordeaux and Camembert from the fridge?

[brownie]

you know that Superdupont comic where he fights with Bruce Lee who downs him by serving Bordeaux and Camembert from the fridge?

My culture is missing on that one

But not being surprised! Don't think Bruce Lee and camembert went together And when I return to Normandy, I'll go for a second helping of camembert ice cream

[couw]

you know that Superdupont comic where he fights with Bruce Lee who downs him by serving Bordeaux and Camembert from the fridge?

My culture is missing on that one

it's by Gotlieb

[brownie]

you know that Superdupont comic where he fights with Bruce Lee who downs him by serving Bordeaux and Camembert from the fridge?

My culture is missing on that one

it's by Gotlieb

Oh yes, of course. I am now a certified know-nothing person

Will have to go get a Gotlieb refresher course in one of the numerous comicbook shops in my neighborhood B-)

[couw]

you know that Superdupont comic where he fights with Bruce Lee who downs him by serving Bordeaux and Camembert from the fridge?

My culture is missing on that one

it's by Gotlieb

Oh yes, of course. I am now a certified know-nothing person

Will have to go get a Gotlieb refresher course in one of the numerous comicbook shops in my neighborhood B-)

don't know whether these are in print, been ages since I read them.

Edited January 11, 2005 by couw