According to The Telegraph, Scientists at the University of Illinois, in Chicago, have found that the fat in olive oil actually kick-starts failing hearts.
The health-boosting properties of a Mediterranean Diet are well known, but until now, it has been unclear what was driving the benefits.
Now researchers have discovered that oleate, the common fat in olive oil, helps failing hearts to use body fat as fuel.
A healthy heart absorbs fat to keep pumping. But when the heart is damaged it can no longer process or store fat and so it becomes starved of energy.
Not only does the heart no longer have the fuel it needs to work properly, but the toxic fat is left in the body where it can clog up arteries.
Oleate appears to kick-start genes which produce enzymes which can break down fat so it can be absorbed by the heart.
Full story here.