Compared to
other kinds of fat, extra virgin olive oil may have healthier effects on levels
of blood sugar and bad cholesterol after meals, according to an Italian study.
That may
explain why a traditional Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil is linked to
lower risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers say.
“Lowering
(post-meal) blood glucose and cholesterol may be useful to reduce the negative
effects of glucose and cholesterol on the cardiovascular system,” lead study
author Francesco Violi, a researcher at Sapienza University in Rome, said by
email.
Violi and
his colleagues tested the effect of adding extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to a
Mediterranean diet based on fruits, vegetables, grains and fish, with only
limited consumption of dairy or red meat.
