Yahoo News The 'superfood' spoonful Professor Tim Spector says 'lowers blood pressure, inflammation and risk of death'
Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London and the brains behind the Zoe health app, has singled out a 'superfood' that could significantly lower the risk of heart disease, inflammation, type 2 diabetes, and cancer if consumed daily. Prof Spector, who usually avoids using the term 'superfood', believes olive oil might be worthy of the title.
On Instagram, Prof Spector explained his stance, despite the common misconception linking oils to unhealthy diets: "If I did believe in 'superfoods' olive oil would be one of them. While many of us were taught to fear fat, research shows that diets rich in extra virgin olive oil are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer."
He emphasised the importance of polyphenols found in high-quality olive oil and their significant impact on health: "Many of these benefits are attributed to the high polyphenol count in extra virgin olive oil. Not only do these polyphenols exert powerful anti-inflammatory effects but they also promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, contributing to good gut health. And more than anything else, I can't think of a better combination than olive oil and delicious (almost) in season tomatoes delicious. There are few dishes that aren't improved with a drizzle of olive oil, both for your health and your taste buds. There's a reason olive oil is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet."
The late Dr Michael Mosley, a friend and colleague, was also a proponent of olive oil. He once stated: "Olive oil is also rich in something called Oleic acid, which, along with the polyphenols, could explain why a good glug of olive oil a day can lower inflammation, improve our memory and reduce blood pressure."
Dr Mosley suggested that splurging on the pricier version could offer more benefits and should generally be chosen over other oils like rapeseed. He revealed: "In a recent Spanish study of over 12,000 people, researchers found that those who had a tablespoon and a half of olive oil a day were half as likely to die from cardiovascular disease, which is impressive.", reports Gloucestershire Live.
"This association was only found with those consuming extra virgin olive oil and not refined or ordinary olive oil. On the other hand, a 2020 roundup found that consuming olive oil in whatever form lowered blood pressure, though extra virgin had a bigger impact."
