Olive oil is made from the fruit of the olive tree, which is naturally high in healthy fatty acids. Extra virgin olive oil health benefits are well known and include lowering rates of inflammation, heart disease, depression, dementia and obesity.
 
But not all olive oil is created equal! Here are some things to consider when you purchase.
 
There are several types of olive oil available:

• Extra virgin olive oil – produced by cold pressing without chemicals or heat. This has the most health benefits
• Virgin olive oil – comes from a second pressing and possibly riper olives but still a good product.
• “Light” olive oil – refined olive oil that may be chemically processed and blended with cheaper vegetable oils. This product may be rancid due to high heat processing and I suggest avoiding it.
• Frequently, oil labeled as “extra virgin olive oil” contains cheaper GMO canola oil (which I strongly recommend avoiding due to it’s negative health affects) and herb flavors to make this fake oil taste like the real thing.

 
How do I tell if my olive oil is fake?

• If the oil is super cheap, it probably isn’t real. Spend a little more! You get what you pay for.
• Check the label for a seal from the International Olive Oil Council (IOC).
• A good olive oil will solidify when it’s cold and refrigerated because of its chemical structure. If it doesn’t become cloudy and thicken then it is not pure olive oil.

 
Look for a harvesting date on the label to know that the oil is still fresh. An unopened bottle of good quality olive oil lasts for up to two years from the date it was bottled if you store it in a cool, dark place. Once the bottle is opened, it should be used within a few months.
 

​Did you start the year with thoughts of a fresh start? New Year, New You!? Many of us do. I know I like to start out the New Year with some goals that I want to achieve and focus on. After all, people who set New Year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to achieve their goals than people who don’t. That multiplier of 10 is motivating isn’t it?
 
But here’s the problem…Only 8% of those that set resolutions are successful in achieving them.  That factor of 10 doesn’t really get us very far does it? The reality is that making change is really hard and there isn’t much of a way to get around that.
 
Maybe as February starts up, you’re starting to realize that your resolutions aren’t going as well as you thought they would. Perhaps it is harder than you thought it would be. Well here’s why….
 
Many of our behaviors are automatic or what we know as habits. Even though we think that we are making decisions as we go about our day and are fully conscious of our choices, this is not exactly the case. Some studies show that up to 40% of what we do is pre-programmed and automatic.
 
This is why habits can be tough to break. On average it takes 66 days for a new habit to become automatic and it can take up to 8 months.
 
Because we know how tough it can be, we really focus on how best to support our clients with setting goals and making changes to the habits that support those goals. If you are struggling with your resolutions, try some of these ideas that we find effective:

• We help our clients get in touch with why they want to make change and understanding what the tipping point was for them. Knowing this makes it easier to stay on track when the going gets tough.
• We analyze and dissect the habits that are getting in the client’s way. This deeper understanding makes it easier to break the habit.
• We tackle things one thing at a time or in manageable chunks. It is rare that I see someone completely overhaul their life in one fell swoop and it be a sustainable change.
• We don’t expect instant success. It can be a process and so we are there to help get clients back on track without beating themselves up.
• We educate about the benefits of the new habits we are working on and how they will help support the client’s end goal.
• We help identify potential problems that may come up and make plans to tackle them.
• We offer support and encourage clients to get support elsewhere too.
• We suggest using rewards and celebrations  as motivator.

 
If you’re realizing you need more support with your resolutions around your health and nutrition, we’d love to help.