Daily Olive Oil Consumption Linked to Reduced Dementia Risk
Nutritionists and medical researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have discovered evidence suggesting that daily intake of olive oil could lower the risk of dementia.
In their research published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the team examined data from two extensive health databases, comprising thousands of individuals. They observed that those who consumed a minimum of 7 grams of olive oil daily had a reduced risk of dementia-related mortality.
In fact, Previous studies have highlighted the health benefits of adhering to the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes the intake of legumes, vegetables, nuts, fish, dairy, and olive oil.
This recent investigation suggests that the significant presence of olive oil in such diets could play a pivotal role in promoting health.
Uncovering the Potential Benefits
To delve deeper into the potential advantages of regular olive oil consumption, the researchers analyzed data from over 60,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and more than 31,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.
These databases, spanning up to three decades, included information on causes of death.
Among the 92,383 individuals in the databases, 4,751 had died from dementia-related causes.
Upon comparing dietary habits, the team found that those who consumed at least half a teaspoon of olive oil daily were 28% less likely to succumb to diseases associated with dementia development.
Additionally, the researchers observed that many individuals in the databases who regularly consumed olive oil over extended periods often substituted it for butter, mayonnaise, and other vegetable oils in cooking and dressings.
Consequently, they consumed fewer of these alternative products, which could have influenced dementia rates.
Furthermore, the team posits that following a Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, may lower the risk of dementia by mitigating inflammation induced by various factors.
Read the original article on: Medical Xpress
