Whether you drizzle it over your salad or enjoy it in your morning coffee, there’s no denying that olive oil is an incredibly versatile ingredient. 

It’s also one of those foodstuffs we all know is supposed to be good for us – but according to new research, the benefits of olive oil could be more unique than many of us think.

The study, which builds on previous research led by Dr Bill Mullen, a senior research fellow of cardiovascular and metabolic health at the University of Glasgow, found that olive oil is the only common cooking oil that has a positive impact on heart health.

Previously, Dr Mullen and his team had shown that olive oil can have a tangible impact on the presence of heart-health-related ‘biomarkers’ in urine. These biomarkers are protein fragments which can indicate the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) before symptoms have even started. 

However, the team had not applied this measurement technique to other cooking oils – and that’s what this new study set out to do. The new study also used volunteers from Glasgow – the same place as those who took part in the original study – to see if the results could be replicated.

What the team found was fascinating. While just six weeks of consuming 20ml of olive oil a day made a noticeable difference to heart health, consuming the same amounts of rapeseed and sunflower oil had no impact whatsoever. 

That’s not bad news – it’s proof that these common seed oils aren’t worsening our heart health – but it’s also a powerful endorsement of the role olive oil can play in a healthy diet. 

It’s worth noting that this study was funded in its final stages by the olive oil brand Filippo Berio, but the science speaks for itself here. 

Indeed, as Dr Mullen told Huffpost: “[The olive oil] results were like hitting the jackpot as far as I was concerned. Although I knew the science, it is extremely rare in nutritional research to see such strikingly positive results.”

He continued: “Both extra virgin olive oil and olive oil produced significant changes after only six weeks, a change of 0.3 in the coronary artery disease biomarker score.” 

While there are plenty of simple ways to look after your heart health – from going on a daily walk to taking care of your mental health – consuming 20ml of raw, uncooked olive oil per day feels like a simple change to make.

It’s equivalent to just four teaspoons, so if you have some drizzled over your salad, you’ll be well on your way to reaping the benefits. Easy peasy. 

Images: Getty