Free The Passionate Olive by Carol Firenze Page A

of food through the digestive track and bowel. The mild vegetable mucilage in olive oil protects the body’s digestive tract and acts as a natural laxative. Take extra virgin olive oil alone; if you don’t like the taste (I can’t imagine that!), you may wish to mix it with lemon juice.
Natural Laxative
     
Take 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil mixed with the juice of a medium-sized lemon on an empty stomach
31) AID IN PREVENTING GALLSTONES
    Gallstones, a very painful malady, are hard, round lumps of solid material usually composed of bile or cholesterol. Olive oil stimulates bile secretion and regulates the emptying of the gallbladder, which may help to prevent gallstones. Recent studies do show that olive oil has a very positive effect on the gallbladder and that the incidence ofgallstones is relatively low among people who live in areas where olive oil consumption is high.
    There is a well-known “gallbladder/liver flush” remedy that uses olive oil along with apple juice, epsom salts, and lemon juice. The process is quite involved; for more information, see The Amazing Liver Cleanse by Andreas Moritz. However, always check first with a medical doctor if you think you have gallstones, and always get medical advice prior to considering a liver cleanse.
32) EASE THE PAIN OF ARTHRITIS AND BURSITIS
    Bursitis and arthritis can afflict a person with a great deal of pain, swelling, and stiffening, and it can severely reduce one’s range of motion. One tablespoon of olive oil, taken one half hour before breakfast, is reputed to help ease these symptoms and may even reduce the development of these two chronic illnesses. According to a Greek study (published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , December 1999), consuming extra virgin olive oil reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. A quote from this study states: “Those with the lowest lifetime consumption of extra virgin olive oil had a 2½ times greater chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis than those with the highest.” In addition to swallowing that daily morning tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, put some on your hands and massage the affected areas. This, too, may ease the pain of arthritis and bursitis.
33) AID IN THE PREVENTION OF COLON CANCER
    Numerous studies point to the fact that olive oil may aid in the prevention of colon cancer. According to theNational Cancer Institute (American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures— 1997, Atlanta, Ga., 1999) more than 75 percent of colon cancer cases could be prevented by diet. An Oxford University study found that “olive oil, perhaps through its influence on secondary bile acid patterns in the colon, appears to protect against the development of colorectal cancer.” The study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (October 3000), included participants from twenty-eight countries, including the United States. Research data showed “new evidence of olive oil’s protective effect on colonic mucosa” and concluded that individuals consuming large quantities of olive oil have a lower rate of colon cancer.
34) RELIEVE COLDS, SORE THROATS, AND COUGHS
    When winter arrives, colds, sore throats, and coughs usually follow. The winter months on the Italian Riviera, where my relatives live, are very cold and damp and can be quite severe—especially in my zia Lena’s home, which did not have central heating. She told me how she often warded off colds (and probably other people!) with her olive oil and crushed garlic formulas. I prefer a sweeter version.
Sore Throat or Cough Remedy
     
In a pan, mix 3 to 4 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 cup of honey, and ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Warm for 5 minutes over low heat on top of the stove
Take 1 tablespoon every two hours
35) REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
    My friend Joanna lived in Rome for many years, and while there she thoroughly enjoyed the good life we all associate with living in that magical city. She would often eat out, and