NNF: Olive Oil OIls Your Heart

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July 10, 2002

NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS

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Today's Topic: Olive Oil Oils Your Heart

 

Olive oil has been touted as one of the best fats for your heart.

This is based, to a large extent, on observations that Mediterranean

countries have low rates of heart disease. But the Mediterranean

lifestyle differs in lots of other ways besides the oil in the

kitchen. A new study looked at use of olive oil in Spain and risk of

a first heart attack.

 

A case-control study was conducted in Pamplona involving 171 patients

who had suffered a heart attack and an equal number of control

subjects without evidence of heart disease. Those consuming the

highest amount of olive oil had a reduction in risk of heart attack of

82 percent. This group took in an average of 52 grams (about

4 tablespoons) per day. The study appeared in the April 2002 edition

of the International Journal of Epidemiology.

< http://ije.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/31/2/474 >

 

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Besides differences in

eating olive oil, those with heart attacks were twice as likely to

smoke cigarettes or be diabetic and to have high blood pressure or

high serum cholesterol. The statistical analysis included these

factors in reaching its conclusion. However, remember that heart

disease is the result of multiple factors, not just determined by the

type of fat you use.

 

 

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