Live Fit Magazine

Every now and then you run across a story in an unexpected place. I spent a recent Sunday at the La Jolla Farmer’s Market and that’s where I met George Petrou. George is Greek and makes olive oil. He faithfully brings his stash of delicious olive oil, olives, balsamic vinegar, and tasty cheeses to the market every Sunday. But he sells more than just olive oil, he sells a concept that he believes keeps him going strong and living well.

“Let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food,” Petrou said quoting Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine.

In particular, Petrou is talking about the healthy benefits of eating olives and olive oil. “You know olive oil is medicine. Americans, here they have everything but they don’t eat good,” said Petrou.

As market shoppers strolled by he told them, “Three olives every day—you don’t have any problems.”

Petrou’s grandfather taught him how to make olive oil many decades ago when he grew up in Delphi, Greece. “We had 10,000 olive trees and I used to make olive oil,” he said.

As an adult, Petrou got out of the olive-oil making business and for a while was a fashion designer studying and working in Greece, Italy, and Paris with companies such as Chanel and for celebrities, including Brigitte Bardot. Eventually he left the fashion industry, wound up in San Diego and formed Petrou Food L.L.C.

Today, he travels around Southern California promoting wellness through his foods at street markets while also sharing a bit of Greek history. “Delphi is where the Greeks discovered, know thy self. It’s a big deal, nothing in excess,” said Petrou.

While at one time olive oil was rarely used in America, it today has become the third best-selling cooking oil in the US. Its increased popularity stems from the praise it has received from both health professionals and gourmet cooks. Being a monounsaturated fat it ranks well above butter, lard, and other fats when it comes to healthy choices as it is touted for helping to transport cholesterol out of the body. Additionally, olive oil’s fat is easily digested and provides a good source of vitamin E which is believed to help protect against heart disease and cancer.

Olive oil has served many purposes. In ancient times it was used for lighting, as well as preparing foods, and as anointing oil in both rituals and cosmetic purposes. It’s made by gathering the fully-ripened fruit, grinding it to a thick paste, then pressing it using a hydraulic press or centrifuge to separate the oil from the juice.

So this holiday season, while many heavy foods and deserts will give cause to loosen a belt buckle or two, just pass on the butter and instead try a healthy fat that offers full flavor and multi-health benefits too.