{"id":12319,"date":"2017-02-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/?p=12319"},"modified":"2017-02-14T20:30:15","modified_gmt":"2017-02-15T02:30:15","slug":"american-heart-association-says-mediterranean-diet-with-virgin-olive-oil-may-boost-good-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paristn.net\/articles\/2017\/02\/15\/american-heart-association-says-mediterranean-diet-with-virgin-olive-oil-may-boost-good-cholesterol\/","title":{"rendered":"American Heart Association says Mediterranean diet with virgin olive oil may boost \u2018good\u2019 cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"

American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"AmericanDallas, TX<\/strong> – A Mediterranean diet<\/a> rich in virgin olive oil may enhance the cardioprotective benefits of high-density lipoproteins<\/a> (HDL\u2014the \u201cgood\u201d cholesterol) compared to other diets, according to new research in the American Heart Association\u2019s journal Circulation.<\/em><\/p>\n

High levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL\u2014the \u201cbad cholesterol\u201d) and triglycerides<\/a>, a type of blood fat, are associated with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases. HDL cholesterol is associated with a lower risk because these lipoproteins help eliminate the excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.<\/p>\n

\"Assorted<\/a>

Assorted foods for the Mediterranean Diet – whole grains, olives, olive oil, vegetables, nuts. (American Heart Association)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cHowever, studies have shown that HDL doesn\u2019t work as well in people at high risk for heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, and that the functional ability of HDL matters as much as its quantity,\u201d said senior study author Montserrat Fit\u00f3, M.D., Ph.D., and coordinator of the Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona and at the Ciber of Physipathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Spain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the same time, small-scale trials have shown that consuming antioxidant-rich foods like virgin olive oil, tomatoes and berries improved HDL function in humans. We wanted to test those findings in a larger, controlled study,\u201d Fit\u00f3.<\/p>\n

Researchers randomly selected 296 people at high risk of cardiovascular disease participating in the PREDIMED (PREvenci\u00f3n con DIeta MEDiterr\u00e1nea) study. Blood samples were taken from the participants at the beginning of the study and again at the end. Participants, average age 66, were randomly assigned to one of three diets for a year: a traditional Mediterranean diet enriched with virgin olive oil (about 4 tablespoons) each day, a traditional Mediterranean diet enriched with extra nuts (about a fistful) each day, or a healthy \u201ccontrol\u201d diet that reduced consumption of red meat, processed food, high-fat dairy products and sweets. In addition to emphasizing fruit, vegetables, legumes, such as beans, chickpeas and lentils, and whole grains, both Mediterranean diets included moderate amounts of fish and poultry.<\/p>\n

The study found that only the control diet reduced total and LDL cholesterol levels. None of the diets increased HDL levels significantly, but the Mediterranean diets did improve HDL function. The improvement in HDL function was much larger among those consuming an extra quantity of virgin olive oil.<\/p>\n

Fit\u00f3 and her team found that the Mediterranean diet enriched with virgin olive oil improved key HDL functions, including:<\/p>\n