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Study Reveals that
Olive Oil Protects
the Heart Against
the Complications of Heart Surgery
August 23, 2008
As everyone knows olive oil has been gaining in popularity as researchers continue to discover more benefits for promoting good health. One such Greek researcher Dennis Cokkinos MD professor of cardiology at the University of Athens had this to say about olive oil, "There's a lot of research showing that olive oil may help protect healthy people from developing heart disease, but very few studies looking at the role of olive oil in people who already have cardiovascular disease."
Greek Study on Olive
Oil Protecting the Heart After Surgery
In this study there were 163 men and 53 women who had heart disease
and were scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery. Most of them were
having bypass surgery due to arteries that were cutting off the blood
supply to the heart because of the buildup of plaque.
They were questioned as to not only how much olive oil was used in their daily diet, but also how much did they use of other fats such as margarine, butter, and other vegetable oils.
It was noted that 15% of the men and 9% of the women 30 days after heart surgery had a heart attack or stroke. However, though rare, some died.
Results of the Study
The individuals who used less than 1 tablespoon a day of olive oil daily
were four times more likely to die from cardiac disease, or have a heart
attack or stroke compared with those who used more than 3 tablespoons
in their daily diet.
Dr. Cokkinos noted avoiding the use of other fats such as butter, margarine and other vegetable oils, while primarily using olive oil, also significantly slashed heart disease risks. He further pointed out that this link between olive oil and the reduction in risks remained, even when they took into account other risk factors for heart disease such age, high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity, smoking, and diabetes.
The Cornerstone of
the Heart-Healthy Mediterranean Diet
Dr. Cokkinos helps us to appreciate that the heart healthy benefits
of olive oil comes from being rich in antioxidants and "good"
monounsaturated fatty acids. The spokesman Russell Luepker, MD, of the
University of Minnesota for the American Heart Association explains
that, "From a nutritional point of view, olive oil is good for
you -- and your heart." He also explains that while olive oil is
the corner-stone of the Mediterranean diet , the people of that region
also consume an abundant amount of vegetables, legumes, and nuts, which
are other rich sources of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants.
To read about the benefits of real olive oil go to Will the Real "Extra Virgin" Olive Oil Please Stand Up
References
1. Laino, C (2008) Olive oil eases ride for bypass patients. WebMD.com
2. Francis, Raymond, The Olive Oil Scandal
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