[Grainiary]

I'm looking forward to the publication of the university studies being conducted on the various plants used in salads in Crete. Crete is famous for the long lives enjoyed by its inhabitants which are thought to be the result of the Cretan diet.

Effie, I recently finished reading a book called "The Jungle Effect: Healthiest Diets from Around the World" that Andra K. recommended to me. In that book she goes around and learns what the healthiest cultures are eating. One of the places she went to was Crete.

I thought it was hilarious when she was describing her experience with the Greeks! I don't think she meant it to be funny, I just found it humorous. For example, when she first arrived, she started asking everybody if they know where "George" is. It took her a while before she figured out that half of the Greek men on the island were named "George"! LOL!

Another funny story from that book is when she's visiting an olive-oil company. The head-Greek at the company seemed to be the louder, rougher type. He was explaining with a loud voice: "Yeah, some people they come to me and they say: 'Your olive oil is the best! It has subtle undertones of chocolate flavors.' or sometimes they say: 'Your olive oil is the best! It has fruity undertones.' or sometimes they say: 'Your oil is the best. It tastes like wild greens picked from the hillside.' I look at them and I tell them: "This is bull****! Just shut-up and taste the oil!" LOL!!! I thought that was hilarious when I read it. It reminds me of some Greeks that I know.

Her description of the healthy Cretan diet was very standard: lots of veggies, olive oil, lemon, wold greens (horta), whole grains, low meat, lots of fish, etc. Of course they do more manual labor there, too.