The Anti-Cholesterol Diet: How Olive Oil Is a Saviour

Cholesterol happens to be a simple condition– an all too common one — to occur to many people in the world; yet, its ramifications on the general population are devastating. Moderate amount of cholesterol is necessary for the body to function normally; however, too much of it — the yellow, mucky substance — that forms in your blood arteries successfully and progressively closes the gap between you and heart disease.

Americanheart.org reports that there are an estimated 102 million adults in the U.S alone who have total blood cholesterol in excess of 200 mg/dL and higher. At least 36 million American adults have cholesterol levels of 240 and above – which is said to be “risky” and skirting the danger zone. (Data courtesy: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2003–06, National Centre for Health Statistics and the NHLBI)

Cutting off supply of blood to your heart through your blood arteries is not what you want, do you?

Although there are other kinds of diet you could take to go on an all-out “anti-cholesterol diet”, I just can’t stop raving about the therapeutic benefits of Olive oil; no matter how much I do it, I still find it deserves more praise. According to a study done by Dr. Daniel Stienberg, and some other researchers in Israel, Olive oil thwarts toxic oxidation of LDL cholesterol (Low-density lipoprotein) which is believed to cause clogging or arteries.

Apparently, the more HDL (High-density Lipoprotein) and less LDL you have in your blood, the safer your arteries are. Also, Dr. Steinberg and others believe that LDL as such might not be as dangerous as the “toxic form of LDL” which occurs when LDL is oxidized in your body. The safest bet then is to decrease the intake of the “bad” LDL, increase the intake of the good HDL and also to keep whatever LDL that somehow enters your body far from oxidation (which ultimately clogs your arteries).

Olive oil is the best bet for preventing such a thing from happening. Dr. Ancel Keys, a renowned epidemiologist, is believed to have said

“From many surveys on the island of Crete, I have the impression that centenarians are common among farmers, whose breakfast is often a wineglass of olive oil”.

The media is awash with new studies pointing to the benefits of Olive Oil (you now know why I get so excited, don’t you?). Further, most of the fashionably health conscious recipes have Olive oil as a principal ingredient for the obvious good reasons.

Do you have cholesterol free diet?

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