10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT OLIVE OIL

Olive oil is a frequent guest in the kitchens of many culinary enthusiasts. What do we know about this everyday, but at the same time exotic product? Here are 10 interesting facts about the history and properties of olive oil.

1. Caloric content of olive oil is 898 per 100 g.

2. The main olive oil producing countries, where olive trees grow on every corner, are Italy, Spain and Greece.

3. Olive oil can improve your health: it contains unsaturated fatty acids (mainly oleic) and "good" cholesterol. It protects against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity, and is also much better absorbed by the body than other vegetable oils.

4. The optimal acidity for olive oil is 0.3%. This is the minimum natural indicator.

5. If you look closely, you will notice that olive oil comes in different shades: sometimes green, sometimes yellow. Green oil is the one made from dark olives, and yellow oil is the one made from light olives.

6. The properties of olive oil are not limited to cooking. It is also often used in cosmetology as an ingredient for various homemade creams and masks for the face and hair. And if you lubricate the skin with pure oil after epilation, it will not only be well moisturized, but will also remain smooth longer and will not suffer from ingrown hairs.

7. The average lifespan of an olive tree is 500 years. And some "old-timers" can reach 1500 years or more. At the same time, the olive tree begins to bear fruit only in the sixth year of its existence.

8. Olive oil can be seasoned: if you add oregano, basil or any other herb to your taste into the bottle, the oil will acquire a new unique aroma.

9. To produce one bottle (liter) of oil, approximately 1375 olives are needed (considering that on average one olive weighs 4 grams, and a liter requires 5.5 kilograms).

10. The largest collection of olive oil bottles as of October 1, 2011 consisted of 2,440 pieces. It belongs to Ronald Popiel and is located in Beverly Hills, California, USA.