Weight loss diets

It’s long been known (and reported) that a Mediterranean diet – one rich in fish, fruit, vegetables and olive oil – is one of the healthiest an individual can follow. Spanish scientists, however, have taken it upon themselves to find out why with a recent study.

Although only 20 participants were observed in the study, scientists found that eating foods with or cooked in olive oil suppress genes which cause inflammation and eventually lead to cardiovascular disease. Olive oil, found in a Mediterranean diet, is thus helpful in protecting the heart by repressing these pro-inflammatory genes which are linked to Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and sometimes even depression.

“These findings strengthen the relationship between inflammation… and diet and provide evidence at the most basic level of healthy effects derived from virgin olive oil consumption in humans,” says Francisco Perez-Jimenez, from the University of Cordoba.

The findings, published in the journal of BMC Genomics, also have British Heart Foundation cardiac nurse June Davison convinced of virgin olive oil’s healthy characteristics.

“It supports current advice that it’s better to use unsaturated fats such as olive and rapeseed oil, over saturated fats such as butter, lard and ghee,” Davison says. “However, any oil you use should still be used sparingly as it is high in calories.”

Celeb Diet Doc Says…
Remember that you want extra virgin olive oil.. other forms such as “pure” olive oil may be heat treated and extracted with hexane a by-product of gasoline.. The health benefits are seen with extra virgin olive oil that is cold-pressed and less processed than the other forms.