Researchers looked at how the beating hearts of rats responded to oleate or palmitate, the fat found in animal fats and dairy.

When oleate was pumped through the failing heart muscle, it suddenly began to work more efficiently.

“We saw an immediate improvement in how the hearts contracted and pumped blood," added Dr Lewandowski.

However when animal fat was used the diseased hearts worsened and more toxic fat was produced.

Previous studies have suggested that sticking to a diet high in olive oil can be as effective as statins at reducing the risk of a heart attack.

Researchers in Barcelona found that volunteers assigned to a Mediterranean-type diet had a 30 per cent lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke over five years, compared with those randomly selected for the low fat diet.

A review of 50 academic studies in 2011 found that diets high in olive oil lowered the risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.

The research was published in the journal Circulation.

David Fuller's view

Here is a PDF version of the article.

I think most of us are aware of the health benefits from a Mediterranean diet.  The latest research continues to confirm its merits.  I certainly feel much healthier on a Mediterranean diet.