When it comes to your heart engine, choose your oil carefully

Ever since the Seven Countries Study was released in the early 1960s, olive oil’s reputation as a “heart healthy” oil has only grown. This landmark study revealed for the first time the dramatic difference in rates of heart disease amongst seven different countries. This paper pointed out that the inhabitants of Crete, a small island in the south Mediterranean region, had a 98 percent lower rate of heart disease than those of the United States! This study was one of many that I referenced in The Word On Health (©2000 Moody Press), where I wrote extensively about the value of a Bible-lands diet that is rich in olive oil. So a recent article that shed new light on how olive oil might exert its beneficial effects was of particular interest to me.

The article reported on a 4-week study conducted out of University of Kentucky. In it, researchers compared the toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the arteries of mice fed corn oil, which is very common in US diets and high in linoleic acid, to that of mice fed olive oil. Olive oil is high in oleic acid, but low in linoleic acid. PCBs are known for their ability to damage the lining of blood vessels. Damaged blood vessels tend to become clogged more easily, leading to heart attacks. These mice were specifically selected because of their tendency to develop blockage of the arteries.

The mice were divided into four groups. One group was fed a diet high in corn oil, and then injected twice with a dose of PCBs. Another group was fed a diet high in olive oil, and received the same injections. Two other groups were placed on the same respective diets, but received no injections.

At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and their blood and tissues studied. The mice that had eaten the corn oil and received the PCB injections had the greatest amount of fat in their arteries. They also had the greatest amount of damage to the lining of the arteries.

While industrial production of PCBs has been banned since the 1970s, they are still used in some electrical equipment. Since they are slow to break down, they continue to present an occupational hazard to some electrical workers. Even if PCBs themselves were not a factor, the study points to the possible connection between toxic substances that can damage the lining of arteries (the first step toward vessel blockage) and dietary oils, which can affect how much damage those substances render to the arterial wall.

If you haven’t already done so, consider moving away from conventional vegetable oils to olive oil. Your arteries will give you a “hearty” thank you.

Parsell, Diana (2004). “Fat Fuels Pcb Damage: Diet Influences Toxic Effects Leading to Heart Disease.” Science News. 166 (16): 245-6.

Posted on 11/01/2006 under Christian Health & Medicine, Diseases, Nutrition/Prevention. Comments RSS feed.
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