What You May Know About Olive Oil
Olive Oil is the king of healthy fats. It is a polyunsaturated fat that is heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and cholesterol-lowering. Many researchers credit olive oils protective effects for the cardiovascular health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet.
In April, 2013 The New England Journal of Medicine found that consuming four or more tablespoons of olive oil per day, along with adherence to a Mediterranean diet, was conducive to an inverse association with cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular causes). Furthermore, adding nuts to the mix of olive oil and Mediterranean diet strengthened the findings.
Just six months after this study was released came the November, 2013 recommendation from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology that more Americans need to be on statins (cholesterol lowering medication) in order to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease. Wouldn’t you rather “be on” more olive oil instead?