A new study suggests consuming more olive oil could help prevent ulcerative colitis.

Researchers in the United Kingdom (UK) studied more than 25,000 people aged 40 to 65 between 1993 and 1997. The participants, none of whom had ulcerative colitis at the outset, completed detailed food diaries that were later analyzed by specially trained nutritionists.

By 2004, a total of 22 participants in the study had developed ulcerative colitis and the researchers compared their diets with those who did not develop the disease. They found that those with the highest intake of oleic acid had a 90 percent lower risk of developing the disease.

"Oleic acid seems to help prevent the development of ulcerative colitis by blocking chemicals in the bowel that aggravate the inflammation found in this illness," said lead researcher Andrew Hart, M.D. "We estimate that around half of the cases of ulcerative colitis could be prevented if larger amounts of oleic acid were consumed. Two-to-three tablespoons of olive oil per day would have a protective effect."

Colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the colon or large bowel, which causes abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. It’s estimated that as many as 3.3 million Americans suffer from the disease.

Other alternative therapies believed to help treat colitis include probiotics, prebiotics, acupuncture and nutritional supplements containing fish oil and aloe vera.