A new study from Spain provides further evidence that a diet high in healthy fats, such as those found in nuts and olive oil, better prevent heart disease than low-or-no-fat diets. Previous research of Mediterranean peoples whose regional diet contains a high amount of fat revealed a very low incidence of heart disease.

Researchers prescribed a Mediterranean-style diet to a group of men and women 55 and older. This diet-style is well balanced with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fish, with most fat sourced from olive oil and nuts such as almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts. Red meat and processed food intake was also highly limited. Virgin olive oil, high in healthy monounsaturated fat, is the least processed of olive oils and thus retains many of its antioxidant properties. It also contains nutrients found to prevent inflammation of the blood vessels. Healthy unsaturated fats found in nuts and olive oil have been found to be of overall benefit to the cardiovascular system.

After three months, the Mediterranean eaters experienced improvements in cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Those participants who were prescribed the alternate low-fat diet that aimed to cut out most all dietary fats showed a dramatic decline in good HDL cholesterol. They also showed no change in blood pressure or sugar levels.