Olive Oil.. A New Ally for Weight Loss and Diabetes Management
Researchers at Virginia Tech University have discovered properties in linoleic acid found in olives that can promote weight loss and lower blood sugar levels. This new study, whose results were published at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, paves the way for the development of safe, affordable, and effective natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
“Lifestyle changes and public health measures have had a limited impact on the rise in obesity, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes,” said the study’s lead author, Dongmin Liu, a professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Health at Virginia Tech University. “Available obesity medications are either ineffective for weight loss or are expensive and carry potential long-term safety risks.”
“Our goal was to develop a safer, less expensive, and more convenient drug to prevent metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes,” Liu explained, noting that the team began exploring bioactive compounds from natural products for diabetes management.
The study found that “overall, linoleic acid found in olives has promising effects on hormone release and metabolic health, particularly in cases of obesity and diabetes.”
This discovery paves the way for the development of new olive oil-based products that could help people lose weight and manage their type 2 diabetes more naturally and safely.
