Health Benefits from Greek Cuisine

Health Benefits from Greek Cuisine

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. 
Here is a favorite recipe:

GREEK YOGURT DIP

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 a romatic 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.