Adding monosaturated fats to a diet ‘can lower cholesterol’

People can lower their cholesterol by adding monosaturated fats (MUFAs) to their diet, a study has shown, which provides further evidence that a Mediterranean diet is good for the health.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that MUFAs increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – a so-called 'good cholesterol' – by 12.5 per cent and lowered low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels by 35 per cent in patients with mildly to moderately-elevated cholesterol levels.

Low HDL levels and high LDL levels are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

"The addition of MUFA increased HDL-C and therefore may further enhance the cardioprotective effect of the cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio without diminishing its cholesterol-lowering effect," the study's authors state.

Earlier this week, researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Nutrition and Metabolism suggested that olive oil – which is an ingredient commonly found in a Mediterranean diet – can protect the liver from oxidative stress.

Have you ever tried to adopt a Mediterranean diet?