When it comes to heart-protecting good fat, olive oil is about as good as it gets. Now, new research is finding that the better the olive oil, the better it is for your heart. Olive oil is well known for being the richest source of artery-cleansing monounsaturated fat, which has the rare ability to help lower bad LDL cholesterol and increase protective HDL cholesterol. New research shows, however, that green or unrefined extra virgin olive oil contains other substances that possess extra special curative powers. Unlike regular olive oil, extra virgin is loaded with polyphenols, antioxidants that have their own special way of protecting the heart. Researchers in Spain put 28 men with heart disease on identical diets that included two ounces of olive oil a day. The only difference is that half the men were fed regular olive oil and the other half were fed extra virgin. After three weeks, total cholesterol declined in all the men but those eating extra virgin oil had lower readings by an average of 20 percent. The researchers also found that the men eating extra virgin olive oil showed a significant decrease in Interlukin-6 and C-reactive protein, harmful substances linked to heart disease. They found no change in blood levels of these substances in the men fed regular olive oil. The polyphenols, reported the researchers, added extra protection by scavenging the blood of harmful substances. The bottom line: Replace butter with olive oil whenever you can. And buy the best you can afford. Researchers and many doctors recommend two-to-three tablespoons a day to derive healthy heart benefits. You can find a few recipes to maximize your olive oil intake in the Heart Healthy Cookbook: Print & Save Recipes that are being offered in this space during February as part of American Heart Month.
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