REVEALED: The kitchen cupboard staple that could protect Australians from the nation's biggest killer after important breakthrough
- Australian study makes surprising breakthrough in battle against heart disease
- La Trobe University study found extra virgin olive oil can reduce blood pressure
- Heart disease is recognised as the leading cause of death around the world
- The breakthrough has been hailed as an 'important step forward'
Adding just four tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to Australian's daily diets can help significantly reduce the changes of getting heart disease.
An Australian study is being hailed as an important step forward in preventing the disease, the leading cause of death around the world.
The study led by La Trobe University found consuming extra virgin olive oil every day can significantly reduce blood pressure, a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
It's the first Australian study to show a drop in central systolic blood pressure, that in central arteries such as the aorta, and peripheral systolic blood pressure, smaller arteries in the arm, linked to olive oil consumption.
The clinical trial investigating the cardioprotective qualities of Australian extra virgin olive oil involved 50 healthy adults with diverse backgrounds and diets.
An Australian has been hailed as an important step forward after discovering that daily consumption of extra virgin olive oil (pictured) can reduce blood pressure
It found consuming four tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil per day can reduce central and peripheral systolic blood pressure by 2.5 and two per cent, respectively.
Lead author and La Trobe PhD candidate Katerina Sarapis said understanding how olive oil consumption impacts multi-ethnic communities was important.
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'Extra virgin olive oil is rich in a variety of active compounds such as polyphenols, which have proven health benefits thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties,' Ms Sarapis said.
'This popular oil is widely recognised as a nutritious source of dietary fat when paired with traditional, Mediterranean style diets from Greece and Spain.
'Our study confirms the benefits associated with olive oil consumption extends to people without Mediterranean heritage but who have different cultural upbringings, traditions and food preferences.'
The trial compared the effects of extra virgin olive oil with refined low polyphenol olive oil.
The results are considered an important breakthrough in the ongoing battle against heart disease which is the leading cause of death globally (stock image)
Participants added four tablespoons of either extra virgin or refined olive oil to their daily diets for three weeks.
Following a two-week break, where participants could not eat olive oil or olives, they were then asked to consume the alternative oil.
The researchers measured blood pressure after each three-week period.
The refined, low polyphenol olive oil had no significant impacts on blood pressure, but the extra virgin olive oil caused a reduction in central and peripheral systolic blood pressure.
'This is of clinical importance, as this result was achieved without the use of any blood pressure medications,' Ms Sarapis said.
The study was led by the La Trobe University (pictured) and found the Mediterranean staple was great for heart health
Primary supervisor of the collaborative PhD project, La Trobe Associate Professor George Moschonis, said the study was an important step forward in heart disease prevention.
'Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally.
'Our findings provide evidence for a potentially widely accessible dietary intervention that can reduce cardiovascular risk in populations not accustomed to a high consumption of extra virgin olive oil,' Associate Professor Moschonis said.
The study was led by La Trobe with collaborating academics at Swinburne University of Technology, Bond University, Deakin University and Murdoch University.
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