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Astronauts face significant perils while in space. Multiple studies indicate that humans who spend long enough in orbit may experience a range of health maladies that include weight loss, immune system weakening, loss in bone density, vision loss, and even mysterious headaches. However, new research is revealing how an ancient food product used for millennia may help alleviate some of the risks that astronauts face, and it tastes good too. In a joint project between the European Space Agency, the Italian Space Agency, and the Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics, a team of researchers and astronauts...

Recent data has underscored the growing concern among Spanish consumers regarding the soaring prices of olive oil, a commodity often referred to as ‘liquid gold.’ In January of this year, according to Eurostat, Spain witnessed a staggering 63 per cent increase in olive oil prices compared to the same period last year, marking the third-largest year-on-year rise across the European Union. The stark reality of olive oil pricing A similar report by Facua-Consumidores en Accion revealed a 69 per cent hike in the price of extra virgin olive oil over the past year, making it the most expensive food item...

An overly robust immune response to usually harmless germs has been linked to colitis, a potentially severe inflammation of the colon. A study not only reveals that the presence of one class of fatty acids is the hidden villain that quietly triggers this inflammation, but also found that another group of fats—unsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil—can alleviate symptoms of colitis in mice. The cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), part of the innate immune system, is essential for suppressing inflammatory responses in the gut. In fact, children born without IL-10 need bone marrow transplants which can produce the cytokine...

Olive oil, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet renowned for promoting heart health, is now being highlighted for its potential to reduce the risk of life-threatening dementia, according to recent scientific studies. Additionally, its rich antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects contribute to a holistic approach to well-being. As we delve into the research findings, let’s discover what scientists have uncovered about this versatile and health-promoting oil. Doctor’s orders: Half a tablespoon of olive oil a day The common saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” takes a new twist in light of the study referenced above, suggesting that...

OLIVE oil prices are suddenly soaring, as extreme weather conditions in Europe have caused widespread drought. These higher prices are apparent worldwide, but seem to be affecting Europe the most, especially since for many of us here, olive oil is not just a simple ingredient, but rather an irreplaceable cultural staple in cuisine. Supermarkets in most European countries are currently selling olive oil at record prices, with prices of Spanish olive oil having risen by 115 per cent between September 2022 and September 2023. This is causing chaos for not only the lone consumer, but also for restaurants too. The...

Olive oil, an essential part of culture and cuisine in Greece, is becoming a luxury good because of skyrocketing prices, the president of one of Greece’s major olive producers’ union said Saturday. The wholesale price of olive oil in Crete, one of the country’s biggest olive oil-producing regions, is currently around €8.40 ($9) per liter, which means its retail price would be around €12 to €15 during the winter, Myron Chiletzakis, vice president of the Heraklion Agricultural Cooperative (EASH) told major broadcaster OpenTV. Also speaking to public broadcaster ERT, he argued that 80 percent of the country’s olive oil production...

Aside from transfusions, there currently is no way to boost people's platelet counts, leaving them at risk for uncontrolled bleeding. Could something as simple as a dietary change raise platelet counts in people with low levels, such as cancer patients receiving chemotherapy? New science suggests the answer might be yes. A study led by Maria Barrachina, Ph.D. found they could raise platelet counts in mice by feeding them polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) like those found in the Mediterranean diet. In contrast, mice fed a diet high in saturated fatty acids had decreased platelet counts. "We were honestly surprised at how...

Extra virgin olive oil may have positive effects on individuals with mild cognitive impairment, according to a recently completed study by Amal Kaddoumi. Her findings suggest compounds found in olive oil impact brain health and improve the blood-brain barrier. Kaddoumi utilized 25 participants experiencing mild cognitive impairment in her study that included consuming 30 milliliters, or about three tablespoons, of olive oil per day for six months. Thirteen participants consumed extra virgin olive oil, or EVOO, and 12 consumed refined olive oil, or ROO. EVOO is rich in phenols, a class of organic compounds containing a hydroxyl group and a...

Archeologists excavating at the Chalcolithic site of Tel Tsaf in the Jordan Valley, Israel, have discovered one of the earliest examples of fruit tree cultivation worldwide, demonstrating that olive (Olea europaea) and common fig (Ficus carica) horticulture was practiced as early as 7,000 years ago.Today, the olive is considered the most prominent and probably the economically most important fruit tree of the Mediterranean Basin.Cultivation caused its distribution to expand into areas otherwise beyond its natural habitats...The charcoal assemblage of Tel Tsaf provides the earliest evidence of olive cultivation outside its natural distribution.It also offers evidence for early cultivation of common...

Olive oil holds a rarefied spot in the food world — rich-tasting yet healthy, and able to be used in a wide variety of dishes and cuisines. It’s also something with plenty of history on its side — which is to say that people have been making use of olive oil for, literally, thousands of years. And if you’re looking for evidence of that, you can find it on wall paintings dating back to ancient Egypt, which illustrate the techniques used to make said oil many years ago.But why stop there? If beer can be brewed according to an ancient...

My father-in-law had about 50 acres of farmland in central Italy, just south of the tri-region borders of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. Until the 1990s it was common for just about any Italian with land to at least have a private vineyard for their own consumption. I mean, it is Italy, and we are talking about wine, right? I have fond memories of helping him make his wine with his old wine press in autumn. He learned that they were paying a very hefty tax on the portion of land that the vineyard was on. As he researched this, he...

Among the individuals mentioned in those texts, 12 had Mesopotamian names, five had probably Aramaic names, one bore an Egyptian name, and one had a name with the Yahwistic component Yhw -- Netanyahu. The appearance of the foreign names in the documents, coupled with the scarcity of Yahwistic elements in them, points to the policy of forced resettlement for which the Neo-Assyrian state was notorious. The refugees' displacement in times of war -- a phenomenon, unfortunately, so familiar to us today -- was coupled with forced movements of conquered populations. The kings of the Neo-Assyrian Empire formulated and used this...

Avocados are a delicious, rich fruit and a great way to treat your heart—and your taste buds. (Lisa Fotios/Pexels) ========================================================= Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. An estimated 44 million U.S. women are affected by cardiovascular disease, causing 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year. One of the most common forms of heart disease is coronary artery disease which occurs when a buildup of plaque narrows artery walls and restricts proper blood flow to the heart and can lead to a heart attack. Coronary artery disease can be treated or prevented through...

The Mediterranean diet, which includes olive oil, vegetables and pasta, has long been considered beneficial to health, particularly heart health. However scientists now claim to have discovered why this diet also appears to protect women from breast cancer. According to the researchers, the answer lies in olive oil, or more specifically, one of the ingredients of olive oil - oleic acid. They found that this fatty acid significantly reduced the levels of a gene - Her-2/neu - which is thought to trigger breast cancer. This gene is found in high levels in around one in five breast cancer patients and...

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have discovered why eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables and particularly olive oil can help to protect women from developing breast cancer. The key is oleic acid, the main component of olive oil. Dr Javier Menendez, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said oleic acid blocks the action of a cancer-causing oncogene called HER-2/neu which is found in about 30 percent of breast cancer patients. "We have something now that is able to explain why the Mediterranean diet is so healthy," Menendez told Reuters. Doctors and researchers had been aware that...

An egg-shaped ceramic jar covered with ceramic "rope" once held a prize delicacy: the oldest olive oil on record in Italy... Researchers made the discovery after analyzing residue of the so-called liquid gold on the beautiful jar and two other vessels uncovered at Castelluccio, an archaeological site in Sicily. "It had the signature of Sicilian tableware dated to the end of the third and beginning of the second millennium B.C., [during the] Early Bronze Age," Davide Tanasi, an assistant professor of history at the University of South Florida, said in a statement. "We wanted to learn how it was used,...

Jeremy Vandel/Flickr There's no magic bullet to living beyond the age of 100. But some places are on the right track.  National Geographic writer Dan Buettner seeks out "Blue Zones," a few pockets around the world where a higher number of people live for a remarkably long time. The remote island of Ikaria in Greece is one hotspot of exceptional human longevity. Here, there are more healthy people over 90 than any other place on the planet. Buettner and his team spent 15 months studying the centenarians of Ikaria. The trip was documented in a series of videos, in which...

Shipwreck Yields World's Oldest Salad Dressing Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News June 20, 2008 -- Olive oil infused with fragrant herbs has been identified in an ancient Greek ceramic transport jar known as an amphora, along with another container of what could be the world's oldest retsina-type wine, according to a recent Journal of Archaeological Science paper. It is the first time DNA has been extracted from shipwrecked artifacts -- the two large jars were recovered from a 2,400-year-old wrecked vessel off the Greek island of Chios. If the second jar indeed contained a retsina-like wine, which is preserved and flavored...

The Secret To Long Life May Not Be In The Genes ScienceDaily (May 6, 2008) — A research on the bone health of one of the oldest persons in the world, who recently died at the age of 114, reveals that there were no genetic modifications which could have contributed to this longevity. The research team, directed by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona professor Adolfo Díez Pérez, pointed out a healthy lifestyle, a Mediterranean diet, a temperate climate and regular physical activity as the reasons for his excellent health. The research team studied the bone mass and analysed the genetics of...

TREVI, Italy — It was in June, the time of year when the first olives normally burst from their blossoms in the mild warmth of early summer, when Irene Guidobaldi walked through her groves in blistering heat and watched in horror as the flowers on her trees began to wither and fall. The only way to save her family’s precious orchard in the hills of Umbria was to buy the most precious thing of all in this summer of drought: water. Lots and lots of water. And so, Ms. Guidobaldi, an eighth-generation olive grower, bought water by the truckload, nearly...