LONG LIFE THANKS TO NATURAL CRETAN PRODUCTS

A Cretan enjoys authentic tastes.
Fresh greens are a way of life.
Uncooked fresh vegetables, olives, Cretan Rusk and uncooked greens are eating with a large amount of olive oil.
The favorite appetizer. Bread and olives
The favorite snack. A Cretan Rusk is drizzled with olive oil, and then covered in finely chopped tomatoes with a sprinkling of salt and oregano on the top.
Until recently Cretan Diet was simple and wholesome.
Natural products like olive oil, olives, fresh fruits & vegetables, bread, pulses, honey, cheese, a little meat and a little more fish.

A comparative study began in 1960 on behalf of 7 countries.
A group of about 700 men from the rural areas of each country under medical observation.
So far the group of Crete had the lowest percentage of death caused by heart attacks.
It has also shown the Cretan population to be the longest living one.
Year 1991, 31 years after the beginning of study, the 50% of the Cretan group were found to be still alive as opposed to Finland, where there wasn’t a single survivor.
Cretans have been able to enjoy such perfect health and long life thanks to their Natural Products, the Traditional Eating Habits and their Diet.
Today it is generally agreed that the people who lived on this blessed island Crete and ate according to the traditional ways and eating habits, had less chance of dying from heart diseases.

CRETAN FOOD WAY OF LIFE
Simple, basic, without over spicing and without a distortion of taste.
So quite delicious.
A Cretan housewife never counts out of weighs ingredients. If you ask her how much flour is needed to make a certain dish, she will reply “as much as is needed”.
Cretan cooking has its roots way back in Ancient Minoan times.
We know that Minoans used olive oil just as Cretans do today.
We know that they stored their cereals and they enriched their meals with the pure wine just as Cretans do today.

CRETAN PRODUCTS / HISTORICAL REVIEW – EXPORTATION
During the Minoan times many of the local products brought in all the Mediterranean. Most of the products were Agricultural, thought herbs also very much in demand.
During the Venetian period the list of products which were exported from Crete are the wonderful Cretan wines, honey, olive oil, cheese and herbs.

NATURAL PRODUCTS
OLIVE OIL : Olive oil in salad, olive oil in food, olive oil in the traditional sweets.
It has been proven through several past and present studies that this excellent oil, plays an important role in warding off illnesses and in preserving our good health.
Contrary to other vegetable oils, olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids which are resistant to oxidation and diminish the amount of LDL cholesterol without affecting the HDL cholesterol.

OLIVE OIL AT BREAKFAST:
Try replacing the butter which you usually use at breakfast. Drizzle olive oil on the bread and sprinkle salt and oregano. A wonderful breakfast which is full of good health and taste.
Cretan breakfast also includes a herbal tea such as dittany of Crete.

FRUITS / GREENS / VEGETABLES Antioxidants at the table.
Cretans consume large quantities of fruit, greens and vegetables.
Never a day goes by, without one of these products being a part of a meal.
During the summer months, an abundance of grapes are consumed. There are vines through the island which produce a large variety of both grapes to be eaten and those to be pressed to make wine and the Cretan alcoholic spirit Tsikoudia or Raki. A big part of those to be eaten are dried for when they are out of season or the winter time.
Crete produces a high quality dried grapes (sultana).

George Portokalakis