Part 2 about the Grecian adventures is discussing the Mediterrean way of life.  Why is it that a lot of people from the regions enjoy long and healthy lives.

When delving into what the older generation Mediterraneans like to do, it's very much about their life outside and what they bring back inside.  Apparently, the oldest living people are on the Greek Island of Ikaria located on the Eastern part of the region. The people love to walk up and down the hills or mountainsides, tending to their fruit & vegie gardens, cleaning their homes and being involved in the village festivals.  It helps keep their blood pressure & cholesterol levels low, and can reduce the risks of muscle stiffness. inflammation, depression, dementia or diabetes.

The foundation of Ikarian consumption is predominately organic, fresh, home-grown seasonal produce from the land itself and drinking water with these herbs.  Included are plenty of nuts, grains, legumes, potatoes, fruits and vegetables, some fish and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This is their main source of fat, used in cooking and to dress their salads.  Generally, consumption of poultry & red meat for the older generation is rare as it was considered a luxury when they were growing up.  Eating cheese and drinking goat's milk is done in moderation, as is wine, which is usually enjoyed during meals in company. 

They hardly eat processed foods, enjoying what's in season, or what's been preserved from the gardens and fields.  Half of the year is often spent fasting, eliminating dairy and meat during that time, which cuts out approximately 30% of their diet's calories.  They stay healthy by eating little of these foods and enjoying the midday siesta too.   In addition to all of this, they love their social life with their family, neighbours in the village and those in the surrounding areas.  We definitely have to add it Ikaria to the Bucket List of places to visit.

In Crete, we loved tasting foods that were really juicy and immensely flavoursome.  It makes us want to get your own vegie patch and start growing the basics at home. So whether you're a vegetarian/vegan or lover of all nutritious foods, ensure you're enjoying healthy meals without over doing the portion sizes, being more active in order to commence your journey to a longer and fuller life. 

We hope to get back to the Mediterranean and discover some new gems along the way.  In the meantime, our kids are back at school, the weather has changed drastically and we're already feeling like the summer was many moons ago.  Bring me back to the sunshine and beach any day!! Hope you enjoyed this, Lili x

Whilst Crete has a multitude of olive trees orchards, it also has excessive wild herbs which are cultivated, added to foods and eaten by the animals on the hills and mountainsides. 

When we were travelling to Vai Beach, we often paused to take in the vibrant blues of the Sea, the crashing waves and gorgeous yet rugged coastline, which reminded me of home in Australia, as well as the beautiful island of Sicily.  At one point, we stopped to take pics of the roaming goats. They were eating the variety of herbs on the hillside that are unadulterated, contain no pesticides, chemicals or unnatural ingredients.  What we could smell amongst the herbs was a rich and strong fragrance of Oregano.

On our last night at our favourite dining experience in Heraklion, Maria the owner of Peskesi gifted us a bunch of dried Oregano, home-grown on their land. The smell was divine, and we've been adding it to our salads, omelettes, sauces and broths since.  We have normally always used an Italian mixed herb selection in our cooking, though adding Oregano has made us feel connected to Crete.  However, the dried version that can be added to our food is very different to the Essential Oil of Oregano. 

It's grown through many parts of the Mediterranean, Europe, as well as South and Central Asia.   To produce 1 pound of Oregano Essential Oil requires the distillation of over 1,000 pounds of wild oregano.  Oil of Oregano has carvacrol -(Your Dictionary definition:  A thick, oily substance, extracted from various essential oils and used as a fungicide, disinfectant) and thymol -(Your Dictionary definition: A white, crystalline, aromatic compound, derived from the plant which is used as an antiseptic, a fungicide and preservative). The plants leaves have antioxidant compounds including oleanolic acid.  These are both potent compounds providing anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.  It's active ingredients are usually preserved in alcohol, and can be used both on the skin or consumed. It is predominantly used as an alternative to prescribed Antibiotics.  Other benefits from using Essential Oil of Oregano include, treating:

• Fungal infections like Ringworms and Athlete's foot;
• Gingivitis
• Earaches & Toothaches
• Common Colds
• Problems with digestion, including heartburn and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• When diluted in water, it can be drunk to treat bronchitis, sinus infections & allergies.
• Candida and Yeast infections

If you have not already been using naturally dried Oregano, start today.  I will be getting some Oil of Oregano in my next Aromatherapy purchase to include in Bespoke Products.  Stay Tuned!

My souvenir ceramic dish made with sand and blues, from Ble, Ceramic & art Popular by Greek artists, based in Heraklion, Crete.

Currently we have a few offers at Essentially Lili.  Buy 2 and Get 1 free samples so you can pick and choose the balms you want to try.  I have extended the offer into September, using coupon code 'augsamples' at the checkout.

Bundled Products are also a great way to get 2 that go well together, and these are already discounted.  Other products which have been discounted include the Men's Hydrating Face Balm, Aftershave Serum, Mint Body Butter, Peppermint Feet & Jazz Body Butter.  Some of these products are not suitable for women who are expecting or nursing, so please check the details online. 

For those of you who have recently shared your Reviews and Testimonials or replied how you love your products, Thank you so much.  Be sure to use your Coupon/Voucher with your next purchases.   

And please accept the invitation to Like the Essentially Lili Pages.   So many have been invited but have not accepted, despite following the pages.  Share the love with others - let me know if you've given Essentially Lili details to your friends and family so that I can send you the 'Recommendation Coupon' as a gift in return.  I love when customers are happy, write their reviews, provide testimonials and pass their joy to others. 

And always ending with a positive uplifting quote - 'Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful' - Love Lili @essentiallylili

There have been many updates to the Webpage.  You can find our previous Newsletters, with Podcast & Interviews.  Blogs is the library containing writings from 2017 onwards. Check them out in case you have missed something like Shocking News About Sunscreens, How to Deal with Cystic Acne and Perserverance is Key. 

The other exciting news is that Essentially Lili is currently writing 'The Magic Pot' column for Sovereign Magazine.  Click Here to see the Online Articles or read the Hard Copy Issuu Magazine

The first interview - The Magic Pot is featured in June & August hard copy magazine. The first column - The Magic Pot - 'Can we have Home Spa fun?' is featured in the August & September hard copy magazine. 

I will update the Webpage as the columns become available online at Sovereign Magazine. Thanks for ALL Your Support & Encouragement with this achievement.  It's been totally awesome.