Where USA meets the greek culture
Boutique Hotels &
suites in Greece!
The name of Cultural review
is inspired by the Patrons of Arts
in Ancient Greece, MUSES.
A Muse is pronounced
in Greek as 'MUSA'.
So, we find in this word
an inspiring combination with
the initials of the United States
of America (M+USA).
Where USA meets the greek culture
A Cultural Review
by Press & Communication Office
CONTENTS
CULTURE
EL GRECO's early Byzantine Art
El Greco the Cretan
TOURISM
Boutique Hotels & suites in Greece
GASTRONOMY
The Healthy Greek Diet
Design of Greek olive oil bottles
Founding & Editor Chief
Christos G. Failadis
Editor
Maria Galanou
Design
2yolk
Design Management
Designlobby
EDITOR'S MESSAGE
The second issue of our electronic cultural review "MUSA" is here!
Greece of Culture, Greece of tourist development, Greece of Cretan
diet and quality products -which are part of our cultural heritage as
much as anything else- are the topics we indulge in within this issue.
Celebrating "2014 - Year of El Greco", "MUSA" observes the 4th centenary of the death of El Greco with a special tribute to the great Cretan
painter. Domenikos Theotokopoulos embarked from Heraklion, crossed
over to Italy and Spain of the Renaissance, and succeeded in mastering,
with his painter's brush, the exceptional Byzantine art, and becoming one
of the most recognizable painters worldwide and among the most famous
of all eras. Greece honors El Greco in various ways.
In terms of tourist growth, 2014 has proved to be one of the best
years for Greece, with 2.5 times more visitors than the entire population
of Greece. Greece's tourism industry has been preparing for a long time.
The unique and charming Boutique Hotels & Suites have spread all over
Greece, marked by character, class, friendliness, history, style, warm
hospitality and beauty.
The prominent scientist and M.D. Artemis Simopoulos' article about
the benefits of the Cretan Diet brings added value to (MUSA). Finally,
the modern design of Greek olive oil bottles highlights not only the success of Greek design but also a very promising marketing strategy of
a Greek export, basic element of Greece's Intangible Cultural Heritage
according to UNESCO.
Christos G. Failadis
Communication Counselor - Public Diplomacy
CULTURE
article by
Christos Failadis
El
Greco
Domenico
Theotokopoulos
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The Assumption of Theookos
Ermoupolis, Syros
El Greco
the Cretan
El Greco, or Domenikos Theotokopoulos as he was originally named,
was born in 1541 in the city of Candia (today Heraklion) on the island
of Crete, one of the major possessions at that time of the great maritime Republic of Venice, and also the center of Post-Byzantine art. "El
Greco" (The Greek) was a nickname, a reference to his Greek origin. The
artist, however, usually signed his paintings with his full birth name in
Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος (Domeniko Theotokopoulos),
often adding the word ("Cretan").
The exact place of hir birth was later disputed. Greek writer, Achilleus
Kyrou, argued that the master's birthplace was a small village of Fodele,
west of the city of Heraklion. He based his theory upon a 1902 testimony
of a 102-year-old man by the name of Theotokis, who lived in Fodele. The
old man said that two members of his family had gone abroad and become
famous. Thus the insignificant tale of an old man living nearly three hundred
years after El Greco's death has most illogically been considered sufficient
to overrule the artist's own statement about his birthplace. The result of this
romantic proposal was a visit to the town by a group of Spanish students in
1934 and the dedication of a commemorative tablet to El Greco there. Also
El Greco's Museum in Crete is located on the edge of the village.
Luke the Evangelist
painting Virgin Mary
Benaki Museum, Athens
He was trained and became a master within that Cretan tradition
before travelling at age 26 to Venice, as other Greek artists had done.
In 1570, he moved to Rome, where he opened a workshop and executed
a series of works. During his stay in Italy, El Greco enriched his style
with elements of Mannerism and of the Venetian Renaissance. In 1577,
he moved to Toledo, Spain, where he lived and worked until his death,
April 7, 1614. In Toledo, El Greco received several major commissions and
produced his best-known paintings.
El Greco was descended from a prosperous urban family, which
had probably been driven out of Chania to Candia after an uprising against the Venetians between 1526 and 1528. El Greco's father,
Georgios Theotokopoulos (d. 1556), was a merchant and tax collector. Nothing is known about his mother or his first wife, also Greek.
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View of Mount Sinai & the
Monastery of St. Catherine
Heraklion, Crete island
The Adoration of the Magi,
Benaki Museum, Athens
El Greco's older brother, Manoussos Theotokopoulos (1531 - 13 December
1604), was a wealthy merchant, rather adventurer, and spent the last years
of his life (1603-1604) in El Greco's Toledo home. According to existing archives there is a 1563 document with Duke of Crete's mandate to someone
not to trouble Manoussos & maestro Domenico; another one of 1566 with
Domenico as witness; and the last one about a permission given by Venetian Authorities for an icon's auction representing ''The Christ's Passion'',
after the - famous Cretan master - George Klontza's evaluation.
El Greco received his initial training as an icon painter of the Cretan
school, the leading center of post-Byzantine art. The Greek scholars, Achilleus Kyrou and Pandelis Prevelakis, proposed that the artist had his first
education from the monks of St. Catherine's monastery at Candia which
belonged to the same order as that of the pilgrimage shrine on Mount Sinai.
They pointed for evidence to two landscapes of Mount Sinai, which have
been attributed to El Greco, but these compositions are based upon religious
prints. It may be safely assumed that the artist studied painting before he
left Crete, otherwise he would never have gone to Venice to seek an apprenticeship in the workshop of Titian. However, no records exist relative
to his life or studies during his early youth in Crete. In addition to painting,
he probably studied the classics of ancient Greece, and perhaps the Latin
classics as well. He left a "working library" of 130 books at his death, including the Bible in Greek and an annotated Vasari. We surmise that El Greco's
habits as a bibliophile were formed early, when he still lived in Venice,
the greatest center in Italy of the relatively new art of printing. He was a
great philosopher, penetrating in his observations, and he wrote on painting,
sculpture, and architecture. El Greco's own theoretical writings are lost, but
his broad humanistic interests are clearly revealed by his library. In it were
represented the classical authors of ancient Greece, the great historians
of antiquity, and the architectural theorists of the Renaissance, as well as
celebrated religious authorities and contemporary writers of romances of
chivalry. His library is known to us through the inventories made by his son
after the artist's death in April 7,1614. He owned highly prized first editions
of the classics, a fact which suggests that he came from a family of some
means. The choice of subjects bespeaks a broad and thorough education
in the Greek classics and in history. His one-hundred and thirty-one volumes included works in Greek, Latin, Italian, and Spanish, 19 of which were
treatises on architecture and therefore directly concerned his professional
activities. The titles demonstrate that his interests in general literature,
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The Baptism of Christ
Heraklion Crete island
history, philosophy, mathematics, and science were most varied. In Greek
editions, among his books, were the works of Homer and Euripides,
Demosthenese's Orations, Xenophon's Anabasis, Aesop's Fables, the
treatises on medicine attributed to Hippocrates, and the writings of
the Greek orator Isocrates and of the Greek satirist Lucian. He read
Plutarch's biographies of famous men and his Moralia, and it is to be
suspected that the artist's favorite hero of the past was Alexander the
Great, about whom he possessed two standard biographies, one in
Greek by Arrianus and the other in Latin by Quintus Curtius. Aristotle
was apparently El Greco's preferred philosopher, since he had copies
of the Politics and Metaphysics, but Plato does not figure at all.
Candia was a center for artistic activity where Eastern and Western
cultures co-existed harmoniously, where around two hundred painters
were active during the 16th century, and had organized a painters' guild,
based on the Italian model. In 1563, at the age of twenty-two, El Greco
was described in a document as a "master" ("maestro Domenigo"), meaning he was already a master of the guild and presumably operating his
own workshop. Three years later, in June 1566, as a witness to a contract,
he signed his name as Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος ("Master Menegos
Theotokopoulos, painter").
El Greco's work of the Cretan period, reveal that, before leaving
Heraklion, he knew how to paint both the Greek & Italian way, capabilities characterizing all Cretan icon-painters of this epoch. Five
are his byzantine icons -during his Cretan period or probably created near the end of the artist's Cretan period - in Greece: 1. Icon of
' Luke the Enagelist painting the Virgin Mary'', which considers a purely
Byzantine work painting, Benaki Museum, Athens,c.1560-67, coming
from Zakynthos or Heraklion. 2.'' The Adoration of the Magi ' , Benaki
Museum, Athens,c. 1565-7, part of old chest, painted in Heraklion.
3.'' The Assumption of Theotokos ' , c.1562-64, in the homonymous
church of Ermoupolis, Syros. 4."View of Mount Sinai & the Monastery
of St. Catherine ", c. 1570, Historical Museum of Crete, Heraklion.
5." The Baptism of Christ " c.1569, Historical Museum of Crete, Heraklion.
The paintings combine post-Byzantine & Italian mannerist stylistic &
iconographic elements. The paintings combine post-Byzantine & Italian
mannerist stylistic & iconographic elements.
Another post-Byzantine icon by El Greco is the Modena Triptych
(three panel painting), c. 1568, not in Greece, but in Galleria Estense,
Modena, Italy. This portable altarpiece is painted on both sides and
has an Italian Renaissance frame. The front depicts the Adoration of the
Shepherds, a Christian Knight, and the Baptism of Christ. The back panels show the Annunciation to Mary, Mount Sinai, and Adam and Eve. The
back panel shows pilgrims on the way to the Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt as if on their way to Heaven. ''The Modena Triptych'', shape
& carvings absolutely similar to Cretan triptychs, certainly influenced
from the Sinai chapel in Heraklion.
Furthermore, there are more El Greco treasures at the National Gallery
of Greece in Athens but coming from his later years in Spain.
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The Modena Triptych
Italy, c. 1568
The portable altarpiece painted by both sides, in shape
and carvings absolutely similar to Cretan Byzantine
triptychs, certainly influenced from the Sinai Chapel in
Heraklion, Crete.
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V. Papathanasiou with Montserrat Caballe' / EL GRECO / Movement IV
from Yannis Smaragdis' homonymous film (2007)
Suggested
Byzantine
affinities
Since the beginning of the 20th century, scholars have debated
whether El Greco's style had Byzantine origins. Certain art historians
had asserted that El Greco's roots were firmly in the Byzantine tradition, and that his most individual characteristics derive directly from
the art of his ancestors, while others had argued that Byzantine art
could not be related to El Greco's later work.
Most scholars believe that the Theotokopoulos "family was almost
certainly Greek Orthodox", although some Catholic sources still claim
him from birth. Like many Orthodox emigrants to Catholic areas of
Europe, he apparently transferred to Catholicism after his arrival, and
certainly practiced as a Catholic in Spain, where he described himself as a "devout Catholic" in his will. In Greek El Greco read the Bible
and the writings of the Fathers of the Church, a fact indicated by the
editions of them which he owned in his native language.The extensive archival research conducted since the early 1960s by scholars,
such as Nikolaos Panayotakis, Pandelis Prevelakis and Maria Constantoudaki, indicates strongly that El Greco's family and ancestors were
Greek Orthodox. One of his uncles was an Orthodox priest, and his
name is not mentioned in the Catholic archival baptismal records on
Crete. Prevelakis goes even further, expressing his doubt that El Greco
was ever a practicing Roman Catholic.
The discovery of the Dormition of the Virgin on Syros, an authentic
and signed work from the painter's Cretan period, and the extensive
archival research in the early 1960s, contributed to the rekindling and
reassessment of these theories. Although following many conventions of
the Byzantine icon, aspects of the style certainly show Venetian influence, and the composition, showing the death of Mary, combines the different doctrines of the Orthodox Dormition of the Virgin and the Catholic Assumption of the Virgin. Significant scholarly works of the second
half of the 20th century devoted to El Greco reappraise many of the
interpretations of his work, including his supposed Byzantinism. Based
on the notes written in El Greco's own hand, on his unique style, and on
the fact that El Greco signed his name in Greek characters, they see an
organic continuity between Byzantine painting and his art. According to
Marina Lambraki-Plaka, Director of National Gallery of Athens, "far from
the influence of Italy, in a neutral place which was intellectually similar to his birthplace, Candia, the Byzantine elements of his education
emerged and played a catalytic role in the new conception of the image
which is presented to us in his mature work". In making this judgement,
Lambraki-Plaka disagrees with Oxford University professors Cyril Mango
and Elizabeth Jeffreys, who assert that "despite claims to the contrary,
the only Byzantine element of his famous paintings was his signature in
Greek lettering". Nikos Hadjinikolaou states that from 1570 El Greco's
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El Greco's paintings in Spain
painting is "neither Byzantine nor post-Byzantine but Western European. The works he produced in Italy belong to the history of the Italian art, and those he produced in Spain to the history of Spanish art".
The English art historian David Davies seeks the roots of El Greco's
style in the intellectual sources of his Greek-Christian education and
in the world of his recollections from the liturgical and ceremonial
aspect of the Orthodox Church. Davies believes that the religious
climate of the Counter-Reformation and the aesthetics of mannerism
acted as catalysts to activate his individual technique.
He asserts that the philosophies of Platonism and ancient Neo-Platonism,
the works of Plotinus and Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, the texts of the
Church fathers and the liturgy offer the keys to the understanding of El Greco's
style. Summarizing the ensuing scholarly debate on this issue, Jose Alvarez
Lopera, curator at the Museo del Prado, Madrid, concludes that the presence
of "Byzantine memories" is obvious in El Greco's mature works, though
there are still some obscure issues concerning his Byzantine origins
needing further illumination.
The External Exile, as Theotokopoulos has been called, still exerts a kind
of fascination on art historians; they are still trying to capture the secret which
has allowed him to remain unique, yet isolated, without ancestors or descendants; a great and solitary figure. If one considers, however, that his destiny,
in the sense of human experience and spiritual ordeal, was exceptional, not
to say unparalleled, then his uniqueness appears inevitable. Domeniko Theotokopoulos growing up in the medieval Cretan world, he began by painting
in the Byzantine manner, though he was not unacquainted with the Venetian
style as well. He became familiar with the great art of Venice at a time when
it had begun to decline into Mannerism. In Rome, he picked up manneristic
remnants from Michelangelo's art. His artistic liberation did not occur until
he reached Spain, then ruled by Philip II. Having acceded to full maturity at
last, in Spain he was able to immerse and integrate himself into that intensely
mystical, Catholic world which still lacked an artistic tradition of its own; his
art expressed that world as no other had done before. Yet both in Italy and
in Spain, he always remained the maladjusted stranger, the exile, the Cretan,
the Greek: El Greco.
El Greco has been characterized by modern scholars as an artist so individual that he belongs to no conventional school. He is best known for tortuously elongated figures and often fantastic or phantasmagorical pigmentation,
marrying Byzantine traditions with those of Western painting.
Great masters such as El Greco can be ultimately explained only his unique
endowment of genius. The unparalleled nature of El Greco's art can best be
understood in relation to the clash of cultures from which he emerged: the
Cretan heritage, the Italian Renaissance and Mannerist environment in which
he was thoroughly schooled, and the religious temper of Spanish Toledo which
he absorbed. All those transmuted into an original and personal expression.
The qualities of byzantine icons such as their elongation of the figure never
left his art. Crete's more important impact upon him, however, was spiritual. The
rapture of monkish mysticism was not abstract or foreign to El Greco. Moreover, the byzantine influence in El Greco could not accept the Renaissance
celebration of the body, for that would mean to such a painter the challenge
of the pre-eminence of the soul. Domenico Theotokopoulos was a medieval
modernist with a Greek byzantine & Renaissance education. The truth is that El
Greco asks more of you than analysis or appreciation. He wants your soul! You
should twist a little in your skin, as his figures do..
Undoubtedly, El Greco is fully recognised
as one of the greatest painters of all time!
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The Byzantine Church of Panagia,
Fodele El Greco's Museum
Museum of
El Greco,
Fodele,
Crete
The Museum of El Greco is located on the edge of the village of
Fodele in Crete, west of the city of Heraklion. It celebrates the mannerist painter El Greco (Domeniko Theotokopoulos, 1541-1614), who according to some scholars - grew up in the village.
The museum is located at around 1km from the centre of Fodele
opposite a chapel and contains copies of works by and documents
associated with El Greco. The original building was in a ruinous state but
was restored from 1982 onwards through a grant by the Greek Ministry
of Culture, with Melina Mercouri as Minister. The museum opened to the
public in 1998. The village of Fodele is claimed as the birthplace of El
Greco, but this is disputed. The museum claims to be where El Greco
was born. The Historical Museum of Crete in Heraklion, not far away,
includes the mentioned above two original works by El Greco, the only
original works by the artist in Crete.
Hellenic Post (ELTA) announced the issuing of a collectible stamps edition to
mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Domenicus Theotokopoulos / El
Greco, the master painter of the Spanish Renaissance. The stamps are depicting
details from El Greco's painting "The Burial of Christ" a painting acquired by the
National Gallery of Athens.
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Benaki Museum in Athens, Kolonaki,
Headquarters
THE FRIENDLY CIRCLE OF EL GRECO
AT TOLEDO
since November 12
Historic Museum of Crete, Heraklion
DOMENICO THEOTOKOULOS:
BETWEEN VENICE & ROME
June 21 - Oct 25, 2014
The exhibition will be transferred at
Benaki Museum, Pireaus Ave, Athens
Nov 21, 2014 - Mar 01, 2015
Domenico
Theotokopoulos
exhibitions
in Greece
dedicated to the
"Year of El Greco"
Cycladic Musem, Athens
THE DEPICTION OF DEATH
IN THE WORK OF EL GRECO
Nov 14, 2014 - Feb 8, 2015
Museum of Cycladic Art
DOMENICO THEOTOKOPOULOS AND
THE NAFPAKTOS NAVAL BATTLE
November 2014
National Glyptotheke at Goudi, Athens
DIGITAL EXHIBITION OF EL GRECO'S
MONUMENTAL WORKS
November 13, 2014
Byzantine & Christian Museum, Athens
DOMENICO THEOTOKOPOULOS
BEFORE "EL GRECO''
Nov 19, 2014 - Mar 30, 2015
Alex Mylona Macedonian Museum of
Contemporary Art , Thessaloniki
GRECOMANIA
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TOURISM
text by
Christos Failadis
Boutique
Hotels
& suites
in Greece!
Aigis Suites, KEA / TZIA island,
a breath from Athens in the Aegean Sea..
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Ikies, Santorini island
Welcome to Greek unique and charming small hotels, marked by character, charm, history, style & beauty! If you are looking to travel to Greece,
you can travel & sample life in style, in the most beautiful small hotels!
Greece conjures up images of islands and azure seas, olives groves and
white-washed houses. Geographically positioned between east and west, our
country is ultimately Mediterranean in nature. Athens, a busy sprawling modern metropolis, dominated by the Acropolis, has luxurious big & perfect small
hotels, while in Peloponnese, famed for its stunning scenery & equally historic
towns, you'll find a lot of traditional boutique hotels full of class.
Many of the boutique hotels are found on the Greek islands. Greece
has thousand islands, less than 200 of which are inhabited. Popular destinations include Crete, the largest and southernmost island; the volcanic
© Louisa Nikolaidou
Santorini and fun-packed Mykonos, both in the Cyclades chain. Along the
west coast, the Ionian islands, of which Corfu is the largest, house several
small luxury hotels, as the Dodecanese islands that neighbour Turkey in the
east. Northern Greece is in many ways the most interesting to explore, in
particular the ancient city of Thessaloniki with numerous World Heritage
sites and picturesque boutique hotels.
Greek boutique hotels and suites have
class, nobleness, friendly atmosphere,
great hospitality and long future!
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Aenaon Villas,
Santorini island
GASTRONOMY
article by
Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D
President ''The Center for Genetics,
Nutrition & Health" Washington, D.C
The Healthy
Greek Diet
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Today using the techniques of molecular biology and
genetics we have proven the Concept of Positive Health
and we can represent it by the following figure:
The health of the individual (your health) and the population in
general is the result of the interactions between our genes - which
we have inherited from our parents- and a number of environmental factors. Nutrition is an environmental factor of major importance.
These interactions occur from the moment of conception throughout
development until death and are very powerful. What we eat -nutrition
is the most important modifiable factor - of all other environmental
factors. In fact nutrients influence the expression of genes. This influence occurs in utero and throughout the life span, so that the mother's
diet influences the metabolism of the baby before and after birth.
In a way the mother's diet during pregnancy programs the way the
baby will develop both in utero and as an adult. Therefore I am sure
you agree, knowing what is a healthy diet is one of the most important and worthwhile goals and activities for everyone. I will explain
to you how to have a Healthy Diet by starting with the history of the
healthiest diet - which is the diet of the Island of Crete in Greece as
shown by the Seven Countries Study and medically proven by the Lyon
In the 5th century BC Hippocrates defined the concept of positive
health as follows:
'Positive health requires a knowledge of man's primary constitution (which
today we call genetics) and of the powers of various foods, both those natural
to them and those resulting from human skill (today's processed food). But eating alone is not enough for health. There must also be exercise, of which the
effects must likewise be known. The combination of these two things makes
regimen, when proper attention is given to the season of the year, the changes
of the winds, the age of the individual and the situation of his home. If there is
any deficiency in food or exercise the body will fall sick.' (5th Century BC)
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The Seven
Countries Study
Heart Study which was an intervention clinical trial and other studies.
In the 1930's - it was noted that although Greece and the Mediterranean countries are usually considered as areas of medium high death
rates (14.0 to 18.0 per 1,000 inhabitants), death rates on the island of
Crete have been below this level continuously since before 1930. No
other area in the Mediterranean basin has had as low a death rate as
the island of Crete, according to data compiled by the United Nations
in their Demographic Yearbook for 1948. It was 11.3 to 13.7 pre-war
and about 10.6 in 1946-1948 after the second world war. Cancer and
heart disease caused almost three times as many deaths proportionally in the USA as in Crete. The diet of Crete represents the traditional
diet of Greece prior to 1960. The Seven Countries Study was the first
to establish credible data on cardiovascular disease prevalence rates
in contrasting populations (United States, Finland, The Netherlands,
Italy, former Yugoslavia (Croatia, Dalmatia, Adriatic Coast), Japan and
Greece), with differences found on the order of 5- to 10-fold in coronary heart disease.
Interest in the Mediterranean diet derives directly from the results
in the Seven Countries Study which began in 1958. After 5-15 years of
follow-up, the study demonstrated that the mortality rate from coronary
heart disease in southern Europe was 2- to 3-fold lower than in northern
Europe or the United States. In the study, the mortality from coronary
heart disease and all causes in the cohort from Crete was much lower
than that among the nine other cohorts from southern Europe. This finding suggested that the population of Crete could be considered to have
the greatest life expectancy in the Western world, even though average
serum cholesterol concentrations in the population of Crete were similar
to those in the other Mediterranean cohorts. What are the components in
the diet of Crete that are responsible for longer life expectancy? They
certainly could not be those that influence serum cholesterol concentrations. Extensive studies on the traditional diet of Greece (the diet prior
to 1960) indicate that the dietary pattern of Greeks consisted of a high
intake of fruits, vegetables (particularly wild plants such as purslane),
legumes, nuts, cereals mostly in the form of sourdough bread rather than
pasta, more olive oil and olives, less milk but more cheese, more fish, less
meat, and moderate amounts of wine, more so than other Mediterranean
countries. Most importantly, because of consumption of wild plants, and
eggs and meat from grazing poultry and animals, the omega-3 fatty
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acids were found throughout the food chain, giving an omega-6: omega-3 ratio of 1 -2:1, similar to the ratio of the Paleolithic diet. Analyses
of the dietary pattern of the diet of Crete shows a number of protective substances, such as selenium, glutathione, a balanced ratio of w-6:
w-3 essential fatty acids, high amounts of fiber, antioxidants (especially
resveratrol from wine and polyphenols from olive oil), vitamins E and
C, some of which have been shown to be beneficial in the secondary
prevention of cardiovascular disease and decreasing the risk of cancer,
including cancer of the breast.
The traditional diet of Greece, or the diet of Crete and many other
traditional diets, resembles nutritionally the composition of the Paleolithic diet upon which the human's genetic profile was programmed.
Such diets are first and formost balanced in the essential fatty acids, are high in monounsaturated fats and low in saturated fats and
trans fatty acids, but high in fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts.
The Lyon Heart Study based on a modified diet of Crete has clearly
shown that the diet of Crete could decrease the death rate from coronary artery disease by 70% and is a diet that can be easily adapted to the French population and possibly other populations as well.
Additional support comes from the GISSI study which showed that the
addition of about 1 g of fish oil to the Italian diet (a Mediterranean diet)
led to a decrease in mortality: 20% decrease in total deaths, 30% decrease in cardiovascular deaths, and 45% decrease for sudden death.
Thus, what made the difference in the death rate from coronary heart
disease in the population of Crete versus the rest of the populations in
the Seven Countries Study is the higher intake of alpha-linolenic acid
(ALA) a terrestrial source of omega-3 fatty acids from wild plants such
as purslane, a lower intake of linoleic acid (LA) an omega-6 fatty acid
since Greek olive oil has the lowest amount of LA than other olive oils,
a higher intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) from fish, eggs and grazing animals, and the higher amounts
of antioxidants from the wild plants.
In the past, major emphasis was put on the low saturated fat content of the Mediterranean diet while more recent evidence has emphasized the importance of plant foods (including carbohydrates and
non-digestible fiber) rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, and
of regular use of olive oil. There is growing evidence that classic risk
factors such as serum cholesterol and blood pressure are not much dif-
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ferent in the populations of southern Europe when compared to other
Western countries, suggesting that other unexplored risk factors, in addition to the classical ones, may be favorably affected by this diet
namely a balanced omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio and high content
of antioxidants making the traditional diet of Greece the healthiest antiinflammatory diet than other Mediterranean and Western diets.
How to Implement the Healthy Diet Today
1. You can begin by changing the cooking oils. I recommend that you do
not use any of the (seed) vegetable oils that are high in omega-6 fatty
acids. Therefore you should not use the following oils: Sunflower, Safflower, Corn Oil, Cottonseed oil or Soybean oil-If you have them in your
pantry throw them out. You should use olive oil-extra virgin olive oil for
salads or on your bread, but regular olive oil for cooking - it is cheaper.
Macadamia nut oil and hazel-nut oil are high in monounsaturated oils.
To get ALA (omega-3) in your diet you can use flaxseed oil or canola
oil. Most Canola oil comes from genetically modified (GMO) seeds that
have decreased the ALA in order to lengthen the shelf life. If you want
to avoid GMO foods look for first press organic canola oil. Unfortunately
the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not require distinguishing
between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in oils, they are not labeled
and you have to educate yourself by knowing the names of oils to avoid.
2. Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can-about seven or
nine total. About 5 fruits serving and 3 to 4 servings of vegetables.
Eat at best one fresh salad per day and select the vegetables that
are in season- the same for fruit. Fresh fruits in season is preferable.
3. Meat - once or twice per week.
4. Fish - two to three times per week.
5. In between eat chicken.
6. Eggs - in any form or as an omelet, plain or with one vegetable such as
tomato or mushrooms or any seasonal mix of vegetables or cheese omelet.
7. Eat cheese or yogurt or drink milk daily. There is no reason to choose
low fat or zero fat products.
8. Use sourdough whole wheat bread or any sourdough bread made with
wheat, barley, rye, corn or flour from lentils, chick peas, quinoa or any
legume, etc.
9. Eat more legumes and less pasta, rice or potatoes.
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10. Drink water. Wine with meals or appetizers (2 glasses for men, 1 glass
for women).
11. Snack on nuts - any kind but in small amounts. The nuts are high in
calories therefore do not eat more than a "small" handful a day.
12. Don'nt drink sugar sweetened beverages.
I know that is it not always possible to be able to eat as many vegetables and fruits a day as you should or fish three times a week and to eat
preferably more fish than meat in order to maintain a balance of the
omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and get the right amount of vitamins,
minerals, and antioxidants to maintain health. Furthermore many of us
travel and eat out because of social and business obligations or many
other reasons. Restaurants use vegetable oils that are high in omega-6
fatty acids because they are cheaper. All fried foods are cooked in
omega-6 oils that contain trans fat due to repeated use of oil, since they
are not required to change the oil each time, and omega-6 oils turn into
trans which are detrimental to health and the FDA only now is trying to
remove trans fat completely despite the fact that is was known at least
70 years ago that they were detrimental to health.
Therefore I recommend that you take:
1. One multivitamin per day
2. Vitamin D3. How much will depend on sun exposure or better yet have
your doctor measure the Vitamin D amount in your blood.
3. Because Western diets (dietary patterns) are taking over the other
diets worldwide the omega-6 content of the diet is increasing everywhere. It is essential to take supplements of EPA + DHA fish oils. For
healthy adults 1 gram of EPA + DHA per day. For the elderly and those
with chronic diseases 1-2 grams per day. You might want to check with
your doctor in case you are taking other medicines.
4. Do not forget to exercise.
5. Always remember the Concept of Positive Health. It should be thought
of daily, very much like a morning or evening prayer.
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GASTRONOMY
article by
Cristina Stribacu
Co-Founder at LIA'
Greek Premium
Olive Oil
The Design and
Entrepreneurial Trends
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Design by 2yolk
It is undeniable that Greeks are among the best olive oil cultivators
and among the earliest traders of the world. If we go back in history,
olive oil has been a part of our everyday life since the Mycenaean
period, 3200-3600 years ago. The tablets of ancient script Linear B,
found at the Palace of Nestor, Messinia, constitute a significant historical evidence of the trade in those times. Nowadays, Greece holds
the first place in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil market, as the 82% of its
production (350,000 tons) is EVOO. Thus, we are part of a significant
heritage coming from the past straight to the present.
In the last years, financial crisis contributed in such a way that
made us understand the potential of the renowned "liquid gold". The
crisis also helped in reinventing the traditional product. It is also
true that many young Greek entrepreneurs realized their new culture
identity which makes them move to the countryside, out of Athens and
discover the dynamics of the Greek agro-food sector.
Olive oil is probably the only international consumer good, most
closely to the Mediterraneans. The olive oil market is one of the
fastest growing parts of the global food industry, marking significant
growth year after year. Undoubtedly, the business sector of such a
unique heritage deserves the most special packaging design and that
is probably why, during the last years, Greek Design Studios have received more than 1,240 international and national distinctions.
Particularly, the olive oil branding has achieved a remarkable status.
The creations of the Greek designers are remarkable because they are,
in a great extend, part of the success of the high- end Greek Premium
Olive Oils which can be found in high-end shops all over the world.
It is also important that during the hard times of financial crisis,
young Greek designers and young entrepreneurs trust each other, join
their forces and finally make something that has never happened before: contribute to rebrand the Greek Olive Oil.
There are various reasons why olive oil branding has achieved this
notable progress. Their common feature is that those olive oils are of
Premium quality, produced with traditional methods, with respect to
the environment and to the olive trees. Olive Oil Cultivation is evolving
in a kind of art and craft while at the same time Greek Olive Brands
can stand as artworks!
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Design by Bob studio
Entrepreneurs and designers , have understood the global need and
awareness for high quality and elegant products and they are leading to a more human and natural approach to the design. They use
challenging innovative ideas that combine the idea of the traditional
agriculture or family business with that of luxury. The olive oil bottles
destined for international markets, tend to be more minimal, chic and
contemporary. They are creative enough to keep the right balance
between the core ideas of purity and high quality.
The new-generation packaging aimed at dressing up small to medium-sized brands differs considerably from that on display in Greek
supermarkets. Olive oil bottles destined for international markets tend
to be more minimal, abstract and ambitious on a creative level, essentially setting the tone in a more cosmopolitan and globalized environment.
Design contributes in a way that Greek EVOO finds the market
position it deserves because the unique selling point for Greek Producers is definitely the Unique Premium quality.
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8
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Design
of Greek
olive oil
bottles
Design by
Taste Design
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"Five" Olive Oil
According to its producers "Five" stands for "Quintessence" and Five's
quintessence is the superior taste of natural flavors and the unparalleled
quality of pure Greek olive oil.
Without any additives, Five's production is a result of long tradition
supported by peak technology and gastronomical control. The variety of
olives that is used is called Koroneiki, a kind of olive that grows only in
Greece and nowhere else in the world, as a result of the composition of
Greek soil and the country's favorable to oil climate.
Indulge your senses and experience the extraordinary, fine taste of
a premium Greek olive oil or give it as a gift to a friend! Make sure that
you'll warn him or her not to pass it for a bottle of perfume though!
It comes in 4 versions, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Extra Virgin
Olive Oil, Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Unique Extra
Virgin Olive Oil.
Design by Designers United