Cretan diet

The Healthy Cretan Diet
The Cretan diet is now famous all over the world as being one of the healthiest. Research shows that Cretan people live longer, suffer fewer deaths as a result of heart attacks and various forms of cancer. Full use is made of local products, fruit and vegetables being available only when in season. Olive oil from the very eastern region of Crete and, in particular Sitia, has become famous, winning many international awards, for its superior quality and taste. This is because its level of acidity is extremely low, being only 0,3 % (in other parts of Crete, Spain and Italy, the acidity can go up as high as 7%!). Olive oil forms a major part of the daily diet and much more emphasis is placed on vegetables and pulses than on meat. There is now an increasing demand for traditional specialities and old recipes are making a comeback!

Cretan Wines
Wine production in Sitia has improved dramatically in recent years and, as for its olive oil, Sitia has received many awards internationally for its wines. Of particular note is the excellent organic red wine, produced by the local Monastery of Toplou from its own vineyards. It is a well-known medical fact that red wine (in moderation!) protects against heart attacks. The island of Crete produces 1/5 of all Greek wine.