Oil change

Vegetarian Times, July, 2002

Want to eat like a Roman emperor and still lower your cholesterol? Pack more extra-virgin olive oil into your diet. Researchers from the University of Barcelona, Spain, have found that adults who consume nearly 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil a day for just one week showed less oxidation of LDL--the bad cholesterol--and increased levels of antioxidant compounds.

Published in the February 2002 issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study "may help explain the heart-healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables and grains and low in saturated fat," Reuters Health reports.