Golden Oldie

For millennia, the bountiful fruit of the olive tree has been harvested and processed for its golden oil.

Today, any well-dressed salad boasts a splash of extra-virgin olive oil, and its culinary uses are myriad (see "Going for the Gold"). But olive oil's benefits don't end at the table. Reap a harvest of bodily pleasures with these golden mixtures:

• For shiny hair, combine a few spoonfuls of olive oil, one egg yolk, the juice of one lemon and a dash of beer. Rub into hair after shampooing; leave on for 5 minutes, then rinse.
• To ease aching muscles, massage affected areas with a mixture of olive oil and fresh, crushed rosemary, which helps stimulate circulation.
• For glowing, softer skin, mix equal parts olive oil, large-grain sea salt and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Massage over skin and rinse.
• To strengthen brittle nails, soak fingertips in warm olive oil for 5 minutes.

For more olive oil tips, log on to greekoliveoil.com or oliveoilsource.com.