Would you believe that in just two hours after consuming olive oil, your heart is healthier? Test results have shown that in just two hours, there is less clotting potential, read more below.
By RealAge.com
How many olive-oil-rich meals does it take before your heart starts to benefit? It's possible your body will start reaping rewards after a single meal.
In a study of people with high cholesterol, their blood samples showed less clotting potential just 2 hours after eating a breakfast containing phenolic-rich olive oil.
The Path to Heart Trouble Ah, your endothelium. You may not think much about this thin layer of cells that lines your blood vessels, but that layer does critical things for your body. It controls how your blood vessels dilate and constrict, allowing oxygen and nutrients to flow to every part of your body. Endothelial cells also help regulate blood clotting -- important because too much clotting can lead to blocked arteries. (See which of the major heart risks you have, and find out what you can do to control them.)
Eat for Better Blood Vessels More and more research is showing how diets affect endothelium. Eating just one high-fat meal can inhibit artery function, but eating healthful antioxidant-rich fats like olive oil is a love pat for your endothelial cells. Researchers credit the phenolics in the oil for helping endothelium do its job in making blood less "sticky" (translation: less likely to clot). Give your circulation a boost with olive oil and these other cell protectors: