A leading cardiologist from Malaga has revealed the one everyday food that can significantly reduce your risk of suffering a heart attack – and you probably already have it in your kitchen.

Dr Aurelio Rojas says extra virgin olive oil is ‘far superior’ to most other foods when it comes to improving both heart health and longevity.

In a recent video shared on social media, the doctor pointed to research from Harvard University involving more than 92,000 people followed over 28 years.

According to the study, people who regularly consumed extra virgin olive oil had a 19% lower risk of dying, both from cardiovascular disease and from any cause.

Dr Rojas says the benefits come from the oil’s high concentration of polyphenols – natural compounds that reduce inflammation, combat oxidative stress and improve the health of the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels.

This helps make it harder for cholesterol plaques to build up inside the arteries, reducing the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

The same Harvard study also found that regular consumers of extra virgin olive oil had a 29% lower risk of dying from neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

According to Dr Rojas, the antioxidants found in olive oil also appear to help protect brain cells from damage that accumulates with age.

The good news is that you don’t need to consume large quantities to see the benefits.

‘Just half a tablespoon a day is enough to produce a significant reduction in the risk of death,’ he said.

How to get the biggest health benefits

While extra virgin olive oil remains one of the healthiest fats to cook with thanks to its stability and relatively high smoke point, Dr Rojas says some of its most valuable compounds are lost when exposed to very high temperatures.

For that reason, he recommends consuming at least part of your daily intake raw by drizzling it over salads, vegetables, wholegrain bread or pulses.

‘It may seem like a small habit, but it can have an enormous impact on your long-term heart health,’ he said.

Extra virgin olive oil is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet and is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, particularly oleic acid.

Numerous studies have linked regular consumption to lower LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol, healthier arteries, reduced inflammation and improved overall cardiovascular health.