Olive Oil May Be Key to Mediterranean Diet's Benefits

Study links ingredient to repression of genes responsible for inflammation

I'm not putting this article up simply because I'm Italian, like Italian food, or had a thing for Popeye's woman that I never got over as a kid.

It turns out that the heart-healthy effects of the famous "Mediterranean diet" may have something to do with components of virgin olive oil that inhibit inflammation according to a new report. 

What's odd about the report however, is that researchers believe that the nectar of Italian gods seems to act on a genomic level--that is it may have some effect on the inhibition or expression of genes that promote inflammation.

What's even more odd is that the research was conducted at the University of Cordoba in Spain.

Hmmmmm.... I wonder what does Adobo seasoning does for me???

They believe that their findings strengthen the relationship between inflammation, obesity and diet and provides evidence at the most basic level of healthy benefits from virgin olive oil consumption in humans.

The researchers studied how a diet rich in so-called phenol compounds -- which are found in olive oil, especially extra-virgin types -- affected the workings of genes in 20 people with a common condition called metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome puts people at risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

So, the fascination with diet, obesity and inflammation continues.  The past four years has seen an armada of researchers pouring effort into this area of interest as it is showing a high level of association into diseases that can be controlled with simple modifications of diet and lifestyle.

Now, somebody wake them up and tell them they need to figure out how to change human behavior.