Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

Origins of the Mediterranean Diet The Mediterranean Diet has been highly regarded and recommended by physicians for decades. This cultural healthy-eating pattern in known for its miraculous effect on cardiovascular health. The term “Mediterranean Diet” originates from a medical study conducted by Ancel Keys in the 1950s called The Seven Countries Study. This research compared the diet and cardiovascular health of cohorts from the USA, Finland, former Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Greece, Italy, and Japan over the course of 50 years. Keys and his team found that populations in Greece and Italy had 39% lower risk for coronary mortality, and 29% lower risk for cardiovascular mortality compared to the U.S. This phenomenon was attributed to the dietary habits of the selected populations. The Mediterranean Diet originates from ancient societies native to the Mediterranean Basin, otherwise known as “the cradle of civilization.” Although there’s 18 countries that border the Mediterranean, with distinct traditions and varied gastronomy, there are some culinary trends that occur across the entire region. The Mediterranean Diet is centered around whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lots of olive oil. This...

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The Serotonin Salad: Nourish Your Mental Wellness

Feel-Good Fuel About 90% of our serotonin is created in our stomach and intestines. It’s synthesized through the essential amino acid tryptophan which is sourced from our diet. It’s commonly found in chicken, eggs, dairy, fish, peanuts, pumpkin and sesame seeds, turkey, and soy products. Consuming high levels of tryptophan and other choice vitamins is a great way to improve mood stability and experience more joy. Talk about feel-good food! Based on these principles, I created The Serotonin Salad. It features ingredients high in tryptophan and a few other vitamins, minerals, and other compounds known to improve mental health. Let’s go over each featured ingredient and its effect on the brain. But First: What is Serotonin? Serotonin, A.K.A “the happy hormone,” is a neurotransmitter that sends messages between your nerve cells. It acts as a natural mood stabilizer. In addition to managing our emotional state, serotonin also plays a role in our ability to learn, form memories, control bowel movements, heal wounds, and regulate sleep and body temperature. Sourcing B-12 and Folic Acid B-12 and folic acid are essential vitamins...

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Baking with Olive Oil: Your Essential Guide

Baking with olive oil can be tricky. Let’s go over the ground rules. Baking is temperamental and precise. I don’t enjoy the process; I find it tedious and restrictive. So many rules, less opportunity for customization. I know there are a lot of chefs/home cooks that would agree with me on that one! Customizing baking recipes is always a gamble– one small adjustment and the entire recipe is thrown off. It’s food science; One must understand the ingredients, their properties, and the role they play in the recipe before swapping out this for that. Let’s talk baking with olive oil! Here are the fundamentals: You can almost always swap oil for oil. Extra virgin olive oil is a fantastic heart-healthy alternative to vegetable or seed oil. Swapping EVOO for another oil will have no effect on the final texture of whatever dish you’re creating UNLESS the oil you intend to replace is Crisco or lard. Since they’re saturated fats and solid at room temperature, it’s not a good swap. Olive oil will perform differently due to density. Only use EVOO...

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What are Unique Corporate Gift Ideas for 2023?

What are Unique Corporate Gift Ideas 2023?   Why do any of us send corporate gifts? We want to want to recognize, appreciate, or connect with a client or employee, right? So where do we start? We think about what kind of gift to send. We think about what options are out there and what that person would prefer. What are the first gifts that come to mind? Chocolate? Wine? Maybe Popcorn? These are nice options. They can be indulgent or elegant or even fun. But, what happens when the person opens the gift? Do you want them to be thinking, “Oh, yay, this is what I get every time. Thank you so much.”? Picture this: a truly unique gift that will surprise them and delight them at the same time! How can you make this happen? What makes a gift unique? Maybe it’s an uncommon or hard to find item. Maybe it’s from a small, family-owned company that mostly caters to their local area, making it like a well-kept secret and an amazing find when you happen upon it....

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Beyond your Basic Vinaigrette

How to Step Up Your Salad Dressing Game Here at Pasolivo, we’re big believers in the Mediterranean Diet. Based on the traditional cuisine of Greece, Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Turkey, etc., The Mediterranean Diet is known to decrease risk of heart disease and increase longevity, as scientific studies have shown. These countries are part of the 5 Blue Zones of the world– regions where the average life expectancy is significantly higher than the average American thanks to the diet and lifestyle of each given culture. [caption id="attachment_2815" align="alignnone" width="620"] The Mediterranean diet is full of polyphenol-rich olive oil, seasonal fruits and veggies, and limited dairy and meat consumption.[/caption] Eat Like a Mediterranean The Mediterranean diet requires at least 4 servings of vegetables daily, going beyond the USDA recommendation of 2 to 3 cups of vegetables for the average adult. For those health-conscious foodies out there, salad is often a daily menu item to hit these goals. And since olive oil is the primary source of fat in the Mediterranean Diet, a vinaigrette to pair is a must. Which can get a...

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Valentine Date Night Guide

  How to Host a Romantic Italian-Style Dinner The Pasolivo Valentine Date Night Guide There's no better to way to show affection than by cooking a meal for that special someone. Food is love, after all. Show your Valentine how much you care by putting together a beautifully romantic, thoughtful meal they'll never forget with a little bit of help from Pasolivo. Follow along to learn the ins and outs of hosting a formal, romantic dinner for your S.O. You'll be a pro by the end of this article!   Setting the scene Ambiance is everything. Creating the mood is the first and arguably most important part of hosting a dinner for your valentine. Here's some tips for establishing the Italian dinner party vibe:  No overhead lighting– stick to candles and lamps. You want to create a soft, ambient glow. These mini candles fit perfectly on the dinner table, and add a layer of warmth to the scene. Pull your best table cloth out of the linen closet– or how about one of these Parisian table runners as featured above? These are...

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The How To’s of Olive Oil

Pasolivo Olive Oil Tasting
As Pasolivo’s level two olive oil sommelier and master blender, I’m sharing some tips and tricks the experts use for the how to’s of all things extra virgin olive oil. The California olive oil industry is fast growing, and there are many things consumers do not know when it comes to quality extra virgin olive oil. How To Taste Olive Oil: If you are a professional olive oil taster, or just want to experience how the experts properly taste, there is a process to follow. By following the steps below, you will be well on your way to properly tasting this liquid gold! • Experts always taste extra virgin olive oil in a dark blue tapered glass. It could almost be compared to a votive candle holder. The reason for this is to help trap the aromas in the glass and to not be able to see the color of the olive oil. Many people think that color of the olive oil is an indicator of the quality, but that is not true. • Once your oil is poured into...

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What are the best corporate gifts?

Pasolivo Olive Oil Gifts
The term “positive workplace environment” is one most employees and working adults are likely aware of, and for good reason. The average person wants a job they are not only passionate about and enjoy, but also want to work in an environment where they feel valued, feel their work is valued, and where they can clock in to work each day knowing they are supported by their peers. As much as work is important, the people one works with are equally important and can arguably make or break job satisfaction. Finding a strong, supportive, and trusting group of people in a workplace is not always easy but thankfully, showing them your appreciation is. Thanks to Pasolivo’s personalized gifting, creating high-end custom corporate gifts has never been simpler or more thoughtful. There are a variety of corporate gifts to choose from, allowing you to find the perfect, high-quality gifts for every person who has made working more enjoyable and manageable. You can also choose to curate perfect corporate food gifts for clients, the possibilities are truly endless. Not only are there...

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Gourmet and Healthy Extra Virgin Olive Oil Gifts for Clients, Coworkers, Friends or Family 

California High Quality EVOO
As 2022 begins, how many of us are making plans to be healthier?  I know I am, but how? There are many ways we can increase our health this year. Some of them seem way harder than others, like running a marathon or maybe goat yoga.  While these are both great ideas, I suggest that we all start with something a little bit easier. Add more quality olive oil to our diet. For the fifth year in a row, the Mediterranean diet ranks as the best overall diet according to U.S. News & World Report. If you don’t already know, the main component of the Mediterranean diet is extra virgin olive oil. Now I don’t know about you, but I would love to add a good olive oil to my diet and finish the year healthier than I started. (Maybe I can add in the marathon and the goat yoga next year. 😊 )    Be careful though when purchasing the extra virgin olive oil for your new health plan. There is a difference between olive oil and extra virgin...

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Olive Oil Tasting

Pasolivo Olive Oil Tasting
Many people are very familiar with wine tasting, but did you know that you can do olive oil tasting too? Paso Robles is known for its amazing wines, but it is home to award winning, California olive oil producers too. When you are looking for things to do in Paso Robles, Pasolivo goes above and beyond when it comes to tasting olive oils. You are welcome to taste as many oils as you like (sometimes there are as many as 16 olive oils on the tasting flight). The oils are paired with different vinegars and balsamic as well as spices and salts as well. The Pasolivo associates enjoy sharing recipe ideas and ways to use the various products. For a full olive oil tasting experience, we recommend coming out to the ranch on the acclaimed Vineyard Drive in Paso Robles. You will enjoy the beautiful drive with many breathtaking views along the way. Once at Pasolivo, you can enjoy the rolling hills, towering oaks, and of course, the olive orchard. Pasolivo offers both indoor and outdoor tastings to guests. Once...

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