According to researchers, people who follow a Mediterranean diet also have a significantly lower risk of heart attacks and strokes. This could be due, among other things, to the high levels of healthy unsaturated fats found in foods such as olive oil, nuts, and fish.
A Mediterranean diet may be even better for your heart than previously thought, according to new research. According to a study published in the medical journal “The Lancet,” people suffering from heart disease were more effective at preventing heart attacks and strokes with a Mediterranean diet than with a low-fat diet.
Why would adding vitamin D to food be a simple way to reduce cancer mortality? Researchers from the University of Córdoba and the Reina Sofia University Hospital in Spain studied a total of around 1,000 Spanish patients with coronary heart disease over a period of seven years.
Half of the participants were randomly assigned to a low-fat diet. The other half was asked to follow a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, olive oil, whole grains, nuts, and fish, and even included small amounts of wine.
The researchers found that those who followed a Mediterranean-style diet were 26 percent less likely to suffer major cardiovascular problems such as a heart attack or stroke during the study than those who followed a low-fat diet. The so-called Mediterranean diet was particularly effective in men, whose risk was 33 percent lower, according to the analyzed data.
Nevertheless, the low-fat diet also has advantages. Within the group of participants who followed a low-fat diet, there were significantly fewer deaths and adverse events overall than the researchers expected. Similar studies without a specific diet plan had previously resulted in more than twice as many deaths.
According to the study results, both groups consumed more fiber and fewer processed foods than before the study began. This may have contributed to the lower death rate. Consuming enough fiber strengthens your digestion while reducing your risk of chronic diseases.
Processed foods, on the other hand, have been linked in the past to a variety of negative health consequences, including an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.
The participants on the low-fat diet consumed significantly more carbohydrates than the second test group—a total of about 45 percent of their daily calorie needs. At the same time, they consumed around twelve percent less fat, including unsaturated fatty acids.
Hardly any diet is as rich in unsaturated fatty acids—the healthy form of fat—as the Mediterranean diet. Unsaturated fatty acids are found in olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish, among other foods.
They could help increase the amount of “good” cholesterol and thus protect you from heart attacks and strokes, according to the US non-profit organization Mayo Clinic. In addition, previous research has shown that a high consumption of unsaturated fatty acids can have a positive effect on overall heart health.
The Mediterranean diet also allowed small amounts of wine consumption (up to one glass per day for women and two for men), which was not permitted in the low-fat diet. Some studies suggest that drinking wine in moderation may have health benefits, such as improved levels of good cholesterol.
Another advantage of the Mediterranean diet is that it appears to be easier to follow over a longer period of time. Only 46 participants in the study discontinued the Mediterranean diet. In contrast, almost twice as many people in the low-fat test group abandoned their diet before the end of the study. The more consistently a dietThe more closely the diet was followed, the lower the risk of heart disease was in the end, according to the researchers.
Previous study results had already suggested that the Mediterranean diet could be one of the most sustainable and healthiest diets. In addition to the benefits already mentioned, a Mediterranean diet can also reduce the risk of diabetes, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive health.
Important Note: aceitedelcampo.com promotes the consumption of extra virgin olive oil for its culinary qualities and health benefits. However, no medication or current treatment should be replaced without the guidance of a healthcare professional.
ALZAYT EXPORT SL
info@aceitedelcampo.com
C/ Eduardo Bosca 19, 2-5
46023 Valencia
Subscribe to receive discounts, promotions, and news.
