Cretan Vitality: 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil      

There is something to be said for quality food; unfortunately we live in a world full of processed, chemically stripped, harmfully enhanced food and it is hard to distinguish between the good, the bad, and the unhealthy. As a vegetarian, I work hard to find quality food, full of sustenance, but void of harmful additives. Sometimes, the little things we use on a daily basis, like oil or butter, are used freely and without question. Often times we forget to examine what we use to prepare and/or accent our meals, and are shocked to learn how many nutrients are stripped from our meals due to poorly manufactured ingredients. Recently, I was introduced to a product that not only surprised me, but also intrigued me. It was Cretan Vitality, an amazing quality 100% extra virgin olive oil from Greece. Its natural texture and credited production, along with the caliber of its origin made it all the more appealing. With that being said, I was moved to inform you, the consumer, on this unique and quality product.

What is Cretan Vitality?

Cretan Vitality is a Canadian importer of the finest 100% extra virgin olive oil to come out of Greece. Their business is built on an uncompromising belief in quality and excellence. Their 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil is not only rich in nutrients, but also in substance. At first taste, a sense of purity and real ingredients stimulates your taste buds. A sense of intrigue follows, as you wonder how oil can taste so natural and wholesome. The essential features of this 100 % Extra Virgin Olive Oil maintain the nourishing qualities it has, and to understand that, it is important to know where such superior characteristics originate, and what means for your heath.

Cretan Vitality’s 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil is unlike any other. Due to the unique combination of ingredient and location, this oil reigns supreme, not only in taste, texture, and aroma, but also in experience and quality. Crete, Greece is the perfect location for pure olive oil, distinguishable by its stimulating experience. Cretan Vitality is produced using specifically selected olives, the Koroneiki Olive, which are small, and full of oil. These olives thrive on a rocky, desert terrain, with a fairly dry and stabilized climate. Lasithi, Crete - the region in which the oil is produced- is known specifically for such an accommodating climate. It is the perfect geographical location for the olive to reach its full potential. Not only have they found that this region supports the most sunlight in the world, but scientists have also examined this location, particularly because of its superior tasting oil.

With that being said, it is interesting to note that in Greece, the average person consumes about 35L of extra virgin olive oil per year, and in North America, the average person consumes no more than 1 L. People from Crete, Greece live an average of 10 – 15 years longer than those in North America; scientists loosely credit the health benefits of pure olive oil. Furthermore, it has been noted that the occurrence of heart problems is less in Mediterranean countries, where extra virgin olive oil consumption is higher than that in other countries, where more animal fat is consumed.

Why Extra Virgin Olive Oil?

Cretan Vitality’s 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil is finer, not only because of its origin, but also because of the many health benefits associated with this caliber of product. Olive oil, in general, is superior to other oils and animal fats because, unlike the others, it contains ingredients that help fight illness and protect the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Western countries eat twice as much animal fat as is recommended. With that in mind, a healthy alternative, such as quality extra virgin olive oil, could deter many of the obesity related health problems that have become so predominant.

Vitamin E is highly accounted for in quality olive oils, which is beneficial for all ages; especially for women who are pregnant and/or are nursing. These ingredients are important to your metabolic balance, and ideal for bone composition and growth. Mono – unsaturated fatty acids, which quality olive oil contains, lower the levels of harmful HDL cholesterol, while maintaining the protective cholesterol. Food prepared in good quality olive oil has a positive effect on the stomach and the intestines, helping to improve overall health.

Evidence suggests that components of the Mediterranean diet, such as low saturate fatty acids, high mono-unsaturated fatty acids, etc. have favorable effects on blood pressure and it is no secret that the Mediterranean diet meets all the demands of an adequate diabetes diet. Various studies indicate that the regular consumption of olive oil is inversely associated with a protective role against breast and gastric cancers. The health benefits of olive oil have also been linked to the betterment and prevention of arthritis, osteoporosis, liver problems, cardiovascular health and cognitive functions.

Why Cretan Vitality?

In addition to the insurmountable health benefits of adding 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil to your diet, Cretan Vitality offers a product you can trust. There is a piling amount of fraudulent olive oils on the market today, and it is important, as a consumer, to be aware. Police reports have indicated that sunflower oils are being mixed with chlorophyll and beta-carotene to give it their characteristic color. Cheap oils are being purchased from the U.S and colorants are being added to them, creating the illusion of authenticity and quality. It is cost effective for oil production companies to mix hazelnut oil, sunflower oil, animal fats and vegetable oils with olive oils and then try to pass them off as pure olive oil. This is not only a dishonest way to produce oil, but it is also misleading to the consumer. With Cretan Vitality’s 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, comes a guarantee of authenticity and quality. No additives, preservatives, or colorants have been mixed with this product; it is all natural and genuinely superior.

These qualities have been recognized by some of the most credible critics in the world. Since taste is such a decisive buying factor for consumers, so many food and drink manufacturers claim their products have excellent taste, and few live up to the claim. This is not the case with Cretan Vitality, as it has been acknowledged by several credible organizations that Cretan Vitality’s taste and benefits remain above the competition. The Ministry of Development examined Cretan Vitality organoleptically – through discretion of taste, color, aroma, and experience- and found that it possesses the greatest blend of all four in comparison to all other oils from Greece. The International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels, which is dedicated to judging and promoting superior tasting food and drink worldwide, honored Cretan Vitality with the Superior Taste Award for 2008.

The European Union labels products with “Protected Designation of Origin” (PDO) certificates to give consumers quality assurance that they are buying a genuine product. This label is designed to protect the names of high quality European foods, and has a strict government inspection level. To obtain certification, a product must have strong traditional ties with its area of origin as well as pass precise judging specifications and quality standards. Cretan Vitality is one of the few 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oils to gain such credibility, and receive PDO certification. As a member of the North American Olive Oil Association, Cretan Vitality is committed to supplying consumers with quality products and fostering an understanding of the different grades of oils. The NAOOA acknowledges Cretan Vitality for its nutritional benefits as well as unique taste and versatility of use.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the highest grade of oil, the best your money can buy. Extra virgin olive oils, namely Cretan Vitality, exhibit superior taste, nutritional value, and quality. Other oils can be discarded as tasteless fats, while Cretan Vitality’s finer taste and texture makes it a suitable substitute for butter and margarine. Vegetable oils are industrially processed and extracted through petroleum based solvents which then must be highly refined. This removes taste, color, and most importantly, nutrients. With Cretan Vitality, the purity of the product speaks for itself, and guarantees the nutritional benefits it promises. The Cretan Vitality oil has been freshly squeezed from the fruit of the olive tree, completely void of alteration. These qualities not only comforts me as a consumer, but they also raise the bar on the quality of food I use.

The more I learned about this product, the more I found it to be essential. This is definitely a product you can trust, and a product you want in your kitchen. From the superior taste, aroma, texture, and color, to the trusted and certified naturally nutritional ingredients, Cretan Vitality is, without question, worth every penny.

For more information, visit www.cretanvitality.com