Adding virgin olive oil to the diet helps maintain health. There are many benefits. Among others, it protects us from cardiovascular problems and myocardial infractions.
There are many properties that have long been known about olive oil, especially in chronic diseases. Perhaps we have heard that olive oil can protect against heart attack.
It is being given more and more importance and more people are adding it to their daily diet. But what components does it have that make it so healthy? How does it help us in the prevention of diseases or heart attacks? We will see it below.
What is and how does a heart attack occur?
It is known that heart attacks cause many deaths in the world. They occur when there is an obstruction or blockage in a blood vessel that prevents the irrigation of an organ. This can have major complications.
What are the most common causes of a heart attack?
We must be clear that, among the most common causes that can cause a heart attack, there are some factors that we can modify or control. These are mainly related to lifestyle. Some of them are the following:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Smoking
- Arterial hypertension.
- Blood lipid alteration.
Many of these aspects, as we can see, are associated with an inadequate diet or with low-quality food. Luckily, there are many other foods with great benefits for our health, such as olive oil.
Olive oil, why do we call it liquid gold?
Olive oil is a food with many antioxidant substances and vitamins, mainly vitamin E and C. In addition, it is rich in other natural compounds such as carotene’s and polyphenols. These are antioxidant compounds that help prevent many diseases from occurring.
Polyphenols: health protection
As we know, there are substances that have an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic power, as is the case of polyphenols. Consumed in adequate amounts, polyphenols help prevent heart disease. Some of these diseases are, for example, high blood pressure and myocardial infarction.
Olive oil fats
This oil is also rich in oleic acid or, as it is also known, omega 9. It is a type of monounsaturated fat that reduces blood LDL cholesterol levels and, in turn, increases HDL cholesterol. This is yet another benefit that turns this food into liquid gold.
Protective effect of olive oil in a heart attack
As we have already mentioned, antioxidants, vitamins E and C, carotenoids and phenolic compounds have a protective effect because they have the ability to cleanse excess fats from the blood.
Thus, they prevent the formation of atheroma plaques. If this happens, the arteries are blocked and the heart will need to pump much harder so that the blood can get through this narrow space. When there is an obstruction, a heart attack is possible. Therefore, olive oil can protect us from a heart attack.
How do you protect from other problems?
As we have said, there are many health benefits of olive oil with respect to the heart and circulatory system, but these are not the only ones.
It also has an important protective function in the brain. Omega 9 fatty acid is very abundant in the brain and is needed by neurons to communicate with each other.
Does any oil have these properties?
It is a common question, but the answer is no. We must pay attention to this because there are many types of oil on the market. However, extra virgin olive oil is the one with the best properties; also the virgin type.
In fact, they are not called by chance. This name is given to them because they have all their components in large quantities. However, this does not happen in an olive oil that is mixed with another product or in refined olive oil.
In addition, something key is that professionals always recommend consuming it raw and not subjecting it to cooking. This is so as not to damage its components.
Olive oil in heart attack prevention, what should be clear?
Adding virgin olive oil to the diet helps maintain health. There are many benefits. Among others, it protects us from cardiovascular problems and myocardial infractions.
However, it is not only worth consuming olive oil. To achieve these effects, it must be accompanied by a balanced diet. Likewise, physical exercise is essential to help us take care of our health.
