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Secret of olive tree

Researchers may have pinned down one important reason for the positive effect olive oil appears to have on cardiovascular health: It contains a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory chemical.

The substance, which the researchers call oleocanthal, has the same anti-inflammatory effect as drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin, which can inhibit the sometimes harmful effects of enzymes called cox-1 and cox-2. Scientists have long known that low-doses of the cox inhibitors confer various benefits on the people who use them. Now, the researchers are speculating that the health benefits linked to the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, may stem from the same mechanism.

"There is ample evidence that chronic low-dose anti-inflammatories have multiple health benefits that may range from reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and certain cancers — breast, lung, colon — to reducing the risk of terminal dementias such as Alzheimer's," said Paul A. S. Breslin, who is a co-author of the report and a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. Extra-virgin olive oil, according to Breslin, has the most benefit whenused liberally on bread and vegetables and in salad dressing.

"If used this way," he said, "I think it will be good for you, particularly if it substitutes for butter, margarine and creamy dressings."

The New York Times

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