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Virgin Olive Oil Boosts Brain Health, Gut Diversity
26 Feb
Summary
- Virgin olive oil enhances cognitive function and gut biome diversity.
- Refined olive oil lacks beneficial antioxidants and vitamins.
- Study focused on older adults with metabolic syndrome and obesity.
A recent study from Spain has unveiled compelling evidence that virgin olive oil offers substantial benefits for brain health and gut microbiome diversity. Researchers found that individuals consuming virgin olive oil experienced improved cognitive functions, including memory and attention, over a two-year period.
This positive effect is attributed to the increased diversity of gut bacteria, which is considered an important marker of intestinal and metabolic health. In contrast, refined olive oil, which undergoes industrial processing that strips away natural antioxidants and vitamins, did not show similar cognitive benefits.
The observational study involved over 600 overweight or obese participants aged 55-75 with metabolic syndrome. While the findings suggest a strong link between virgin olive oil consumption and cognitive enhancement, the researchers noted that the results may not be generalizable to the broader population and do not prove causation solely by olive oil.
