Olive Oil Compound WOWS Researchers
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted March 20, 2023
Olive oil has been getting some well-deserved attention the last few years. So it would be easy to assume that the golden oil’s status as a health food was recently earned.
But the truth is, olive oil has been considered a healthy staple in the human diet since it was first developed 600 years ago.
And modern science has simply CONFIRMED that status by nailing down some SPECIFIC health benefits.
For example, we now know that olive oil can lower cholesterol and reduce cancer AND Alzheimer’s risk.
Often those kinds of benefits are credited to the oil’s polyphenol content. But new research points to ANOTHER overlooked compound as the TRUE hero.
The main bioactive compound in olive oil is oleic acid. In fact, the nutrient makes up 70–80 percent of the oil.
This compound is the most common monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) found in people’s diets.
But oleic acid is unique because it’s not only found inside our FOOD. It’s also made inside our BODIES.
And yet the compound hasn’t gotten nearly the attention it deserves… until now.
Recent research published in the journal Nutrients aims to fix that. The study highlights some of the many health benefits of oleic acid.
- Brain health: Oleic acid makes up a large part of the outside of every brain cell (the phospholipid bilayer). The amount of oleic acid in the brains of folks with Alzheimer’s and major depressive disorders is far lower than in healthy people. Restoring those levels could lower your risk.
- Energy: Like all free fatty acids, oleic acid can be used as an energy source.
- Immunities: Oleic acid plays a vital role in how the enzymes, that fight free radicals, are made and how they work in our bodies. This makes the compound essential to our body’s built-in defense system.
- Heart health: Oleic acid helps keep cholesterol in check by stopping the proteins that transport it. This keeps cholesterol from being absorbed, slowing the development of atherosclerosis (heart blockages).
- Cancer: Oleic acid can help lower cancer risk by keeping the immune system functioning at the top of its game.
- Bonus benefits: Oleic acid has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
If you’re not already using olive oil, it’s time to change that. Olive and avocado oils are the only liquid oils I use and recommend. Other oils boost inflammation.
Take your time in choosing a good-quality oil. Many olive oils in the grocery store are mixed with other oils (like canola) and aren’t as healthy.
P.S. A recent study confirmed that adding olive oil to your diet could lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. CLICK HERE for all the details.
Source:
“Update on Anti-Inflammatory Molecular Mechanisms Induced by Oleic Acid.” Nutrients 2023, 15, 224. doi.org/10.3390/nu15010224
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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