Consuming This Oil Daily Can Help Reduce Your Chance of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease

Beyond the benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) when it comes to making your meals taste delicious and lowering your risk of heart disease, new research emphasizes that this healthy fat can help boost your brain health and reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s.

How Olive Oil Can Slow Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

A recent study published in Experimental Gerontology examined how daily consumption of EVOO impacted conditions involving cognitive deficits like mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s after one year. Researchers found that within a group of 84 participants, those who consumed the olive oil had lower hallmark levels of Alzheimer’s disease progression by the end of the year. In comparison, the group that didn’t have a daily intake of it had increased hallmark levels once the study period was over.

They attributed this difference to the fact that EVOO contains natural antioxidant properties that can slow the signs of an age-related cognitive decline like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Many consider it to be the healthiest type of olive oil because no heat or chemicals are used to process it, which allows it to retain its nutritional value.

“These outcomes are exploitable towards the establishment of natural products like EVOO, as a preventive remedy fighting this neurodegenerative disorder, AD [Alzheimer’s disease],” the study’s authors wrote in the abstract.

How Much EVOO You Should Consume Daily

While the study didn’t specify each participant’s daily intake of EVOO, it’s best to consume in small doses. Healthline reports that one tablespoon of olive oil contains about 120 calories. Also, the FDA has supported that 1 1/2 tablespoons of it a day is enough to lower your risk of heart disease because it contains oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat (aka a healthy fat!) that’s been linked to reducing cholesterol levels. Being mindful of this can ensure that you consume this oil sparingly while still getting the amazing health benefits.

It’s super to use in a simple salad dressing with some balsamic or red wine vinegar, as a base for marinades, or to drizzle on top of bread. When you’re at the grocery picking up a bottle, you might be overwhelmed by the number of oil options on the shelf at first. But, this fruity and rich olive oil (Buy at Walmart, $4.48) is hard to miss as has a slightly deeper yellow-ish green color than other varieties along with the “extra virgin” label on the bottle.

So if EVOO isn’t a staple in your pantry, now’s the time to make it one so that you can naturally fight signs of Alzheimer’s and other related brain aging conditions!