OLIVE OIL DOES THE BODY GOOD!
OLIVE OIL DOES THE BODY GOOD!
By Tara Troy
Check out this article in MedPage Today about a recent Harvard study showing that “greater olive oil consumption was tied to lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but substituting plant-based oils for animal fats in general could also be helpful for most people.”
MedPage Today: Substituting Olive Oil for Animal Fats Does a Body Good, Study Suggests
“Comparing those who ate the most vs the least olive oil (people who ate at least 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil per day vs those who consumed olive oil less than once per month), Marta Guasch-Ferré, PhD, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, and colleagues found that the former group had the following improvements in outcomes over 24 years of follow-up:
- Lower risk of cardiovascular disease (fatal and non-fatal strokes and myocardial infarctions [heart attacks]): HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.79-0.94)
- Lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD): HR 0.82 (95% CI 0.73-0.91)”
“Replacing 5 g of margarine, butter, mayonnaise, or dairy fat per day with olive oil was associated with a 5-7% lower risk of CVD and CHD”, the authors noted.
“People who ate more olive oil tended to consume more calories in general and to report higher intakes of nuts, fruits and vegetables, and other plant oils.”
Although there are limitations to this observational study, the findings support again the benefits of olive oil consumption over animal fats. Many other studies have supported the Mediterranean diet for weight management and longevity too.
If you or someone you know would like to get on the road to healthier eating and learn how powerful food as medicine can be, please contact us today. We have a fantastic team including a registered dietitian, nurse practitioner, and behavioral counselor here to help support the use of whole foods in your diet, investigate laboratory abnormalities, and help you develop lifelong habits for improving your health and optimizing the state of your gut microbiome.
Call us at 224.407.4400 or visit our website www.compgihealth.com to request an appointment with any of our providers to get started!