Heart disease is a huge problem in the UK and doctors recommend ways to reduce the risk of it through things like a balanced diet.
Now, one study suggests that consuming a certain type of oil may help people to lower the risk.
There are often studies into certain food substances to keep on top of their possible health benefits or any problems they may cause.
Studies into food relating to heart disease is therefore particularly important as these cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK every year, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
There are around 3.6 million women and 4 million men currently living with heart or circulatory disease in the UK at the moment, and there is a hospital admission every five minutes.
So what is the study and what did it find?
What food can help me lower the risk of heart disease?
The study looked into what happens when people consume half a tablespoon of olive oil every day and found olive oil "Is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, [mortality from illnesses that affect the nervous system] and respiratory disease mortality".
The study, published in the American College of Cardiology, found that replacing 10 grams of dairy fat, margarine, mayonnaise and butter with olive oil is also associated with a lower risk of mortality.
Senior research scientist at the Department of Nutrition at Harvard Marta Guasch-Ferré, said: "Our findings support current dietary recommendations to increase the intake of olive oil and other unsaturated vegetable oils.
"Clinicians should be [counselling] patients to replace certain fats, such as margarine and butter, with olive oil to improve their health. Our study helps make more specific recommendations that will be easier for patients to understand and hopefully implement into their diets."
Should I consume more olive oil to reduce my risk of heart disease?
As ever, in studies such as this, finding rarely give a definite answer and there are other things to consider.
The study also catered for if richer people are more likely to consume olive oil.
"It's possible that higher olive oil consumption is a marker of an overall healthier diet and higher socioeconomic status. However, even after adjusting for these and other social economic status factors, our results remained largely the same."
There are a few remaining questions, despite the encouraging results.
One review said: "The current study and previous studies have found that consumption of olive oil may have health benefits. However, several questions remain.
"What is the amount of olive oil required for a protective effect? More research is needed to address these questions."
What is the difference between cardiovascular disease and heart disease?
It is important to keep on top of medical terms as their meanings can differ slightly.
Simply, heart disease is a form of cardiovascular disease.
As explained by the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NIH): "Cardiovascular disease is the term for all types of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels, including coronary heart disease (clogged arteries), which can cause heart attacks, stroke, congenital heart defects and peripheral artery disease."
Heart disease is essentially a catch-all phrase used for a variety of heart conditions. The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease.
According to the BHF: "[CVD] is the most common cause of heart attack and was the single biggest killer of both and men and women worldwide in 2019."
