Heart attack: The surprising cooking ingredient to ‘protect our hearts’ and reduce risk

What's the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

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Heart attack symptoms vary from person to person, and some people will have a heart attack without experiencing all of the known symptoms. In the UK there are more than 100,000 hospital admissions each year due to heart attacks. You can significantly reduce your risk by adding a certain “magic liquid”.

For years, research into connections between diet and heart health has focused on individual nutrients such as cholesterol, types of fats, and specific vitamins and minerals.

The work has been revealing, but it has also generated some dead ends, along with myths and confusion about what constitutes a heart-healthy diet.

Studies have found that diet is key, however another surprising addition may be equally as important.

Experts recommend the best diet for the heart includes one that is full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, poultry, and vegetable oils; includes alcohol in moderation, if at all; and goes easy on red and processed meats, refined carbohydrates, foods and beverages with added sugar, sodium, and foods with trans-fat.

People with diets consistent with this dietary pattern had a 31 percent lower risk of heart disease, a 33 percent lower risk of diabetes, and a 20 percent lower risk of stroke.

This way of eating supplementing with extra-virgin olive oil in moderation are key when it comes to reducing heart attack risk.

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For centuries olive oil has been widely recognised as one of the world’s healthiest oils.

In fact, people tend to live longer and healthier lives in regions where olive oil is a staple part of their diet.

When it comes to the highest quality of oil out there, extra virgin olive oil is tops. The oil is the highest quality olive oil available.

It is extracted from the olive fruit without the use of any heat or chemicals helping to protect the heart.

Research has shown that extra virgin olive oil can help reduce the chance of heart disease in those at high risk.

The study has found increasing your extra virgin olive oil consumption by 10g a day could cut your risk of cardiovascular death and heart disease by 10 percent.

Extra virgin olive oil is a better quality than ordinary olive oil as it contains high levels of antioxidants also found in grape skins, olives and sesame seeds which are thought to benefit the heart.

Victoria Taylor, Senior Dietitian at the British Heart Foundation said: “Findings reinforce the health benefits of adopting a Mediterranean style diet.

“However, studies of ten don’t look at why a higher intake of extra virgin olive oil are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

“Substances in the oil, other than the fats themselves, could be of benefit to our hearts.”

Mrs Taylor added: “It’s important to remember that the type of fat you eat isn’t the only factor in relation to a heart-healthy diet.

“While extra virgin olive oil may have particular benefits, consuming this on top of a generally unhealthy diet is unlikely to make much difference to your health.

“To reap the full benefits, you’ll need to make other changes too, like eating more fruit and vegetables and fish and less red meat and sugary, fatty snacks.”
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