When it comes to lowering your risk of heart disease, virgin olive oil may be your best choice according to a new study from Europe. Researchers found that this type of unrefined olive oil had stronger heart-health effects than other types of vegetable fats, including normal “non-virgin” olive oils.
They say that this protective ability probably comes from the high levels of antioxidants (called “polyphenols”) found in virgin olive oil, along with it’s heart-healthy monounsaturated fat content. Of course, most natural health experts have been saying this for a long time.
The next time you want a “good” fat (that also happens to taste great) for your salad dressing, try an extra-virgin olive oil and some apple cider vinegar. Your heart will definitely thank you!
From the American College of Physicians:
Virgin Olive Oil, High in Polyphenols, Reduces Heart Disease Risk Factors
Olive oil is known to be heart healthy because it contains monounsaturated fatty acids. Researchers wanted to know if the polyphenols in olive oil also contribute to olive oil’s heart-healthy aspects.
Virgin olive oil, which comes from the first pressing of olives, contains higher amounts of polyphenols than refined olive oil, which comes from later pressings.
In a crossover study, 200 healthy young men consumed about one tablespoon of either virgin olive oil, refined olive oil or a mixture of the two types of olive oils each day for three weeks, then switched to another type of olive oil.
The study found that virgin olive oil (high in polyphenols) increased the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (”good” cholesterol) more than the other two types of olive oil. It also increased the body level of substances that prevent oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (”bad” cholesterol). (Oxidation makes the LDL more likely to promote blood vessel clots.)
The authors say that the study “provides evidence to recommend the use of polyphenol-rich olive oil, that is, virgin olive oil, as a source of fat to achieve additional benefits against cardiovascular risk factors.”
Related:
0 Responses to “Study: Virgin olive oil best for heart health”