A growing number of celebrities and Hollywood stars are starting to adopt the Mediterranean diet or regular use of extra virgin olive oil, one of its central ingredients, as evidenced by the growing number of lifestyle articles appearing online.
The Mediterranean diet, which includes a high consumption of vegetables, nuts, fish and extra virgin olive oil, has regularly been praised by scientists in published studies. Unlike the Western diet, it avoids red and processed meats, dairy, trans and saturated fats and refined sugars.
Spanish actress Penelope Cruz credited the Mediterranean diet with helping to maintain her shape and energy levels after her pregnancy. Other celebrities include legendary Italian actress Sophia Loren, now 84, revealed that the secret to youth is to include at least two tablespoons of olive oil in her food every day.
Jennifer Aniston
Actress Jennifer Aniston celebrated her 50th birthday earlier this year. This lead to some media outlets observing that the actress is ageing in reverse. It is known that the former “Friends” star follows the Zone diet. This consists of a specific ratio of 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat—the latter only consists of fish oil, avocadoes and, of course, olive oil.
Jennifer Aniston has one of the most amazing natural toned bodies in Hollywood which has been proven by being named the Sexiest Woman Alive in 2011 by Men’s Health magazine and FITNESS magazine’s “most wanted body” of 2011. Unlike the skinny actresses that seem to be cropping up in films nowadays on weird celebrity diets Jen still maintains a natural toned body and healthy skin tone that many comment on after meeting her.
Selena Gomez
Pop star Selena Gomez revealed in 2015 that she had been battling lupus, an autoimmune disease. This lead to a change in her diet to one that closely resembles the Mediterranean diet. Similarly, she now reveals that she drinks a little glass of olive oil before going onstage. Explaining that it is good for the vocal cords.
Sting
In 1997 the Police frontman Sting and his wife, Trudie, purchased a 900-acre, 16th-century estate in Tuscany. It produces wine, honey, pork and extra virgin olive oil. This 62 year-old celebrity British rocker says picking olives is “therapeutic.”
After that he says “We eat well,breathe well, sleep well, live well. It feels healthy,” he said.
Jamie Oliver
Many think the British celebrity chef, restaurateur and media personality, Jamie Oliver, is responsible for the skyrocketing popularity of olive oil in the U.K. over the past ten years. For instance there are even those who complain he uses it too much (we beg to differ).
Awarded the TED Prize for his campaigns to “bring attention to the changes that the English, and now Americans, need to make in their lifestyles and diet.” Here, here.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Lastly, Gwyneth Paltrow is a vocal advocate of the use of olive oil. Many of the recipes in her co-authored 2013 cookbook “It’s all Good” contain extra virgin olive oil. Goop also features an interview with celebrity doctor Nicholas Perricone. She extols the virtues of the essential fatty acids present in extra virgin olive oil, Mainly that it can nourish the skin and provide anti-inflammatory activity. Many celebrities have taken up her recipes.
On her much talked about website Goop, Paltrow includes an interview with Dr. Nicholas Perricone who advises: “The most powerful member of the Olive Oil Polyphenol group is Hydroxytyrosol. In addition this super antioxidant, anti-inflammatory has proven to be effective in improving general health and appearance.”
Furthermore, a glassful is far more than the daily consumption of 1½ tablespoons recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration. Last year qualified health claims that consuming oleic acid, a healthy monounsaturated fat, may reduce the risk of heart problems. Found naturally in many food sources, extra virgin olive oil boasts a range of 55-83% of oleic acid.
In conclusion surely these celebrities are onto something.