The Mediterranean-style diet is able to reduce by 1/3 the number of heart attacks, strokes and mortality in people prone to cardiovascular disease, scientists say.
Our health largely depends on the food we eat, and it's no secret. Therefore, scientists and nutritionists from around the world are looking for an answer to the question of which diet is optimal for the health of the heart and blood vessels, as cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries today.
According to research, the best for the heart and blood vessels is the Mediterranean diet , which is most popular in neighboring Greece. Although this diet cannot be defined as strict or as severely restrictive in calorie intake, it has its obvious health benefits.
For 5 years, scientists studied 7447 people aged between 55 and 80 years. They are overweight, smokers, diabetics or exposed to other risk factors. Every day these people eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil. Three times a week consume fish, white meat, legumes; they limit the consumption of home-made cakes, biscuits, pies, etc., as well as dairy products and processed meat.
The results show that people who eat this way are 30% more protected from heart attacks and strokes, and deaths from cardiovascular disease are also less common. Scientists are impressed by the extremely rapid positive effect of this diet, which gives its results despite risk factors such as overweight, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
In fact, fans of the Mediterranean diet consume a large enough amount of fat, but they still have significantly lower rates of cardiovascular disease than people who do not adhere to such a menu. The researchers concluded that the Mediterranean-style diet reduces the risk of heart disease by 34%.
The Mediterranean diet has no clear limits on the foods consumed and their amounts, but usually involves:
The Mediterranean-style diet is able to reduce by 1/3 the number of heart attacks, strokes and mortality in people prone to cardiovascular disease, scientists say. This diet includes a large amount of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish and nuts, reduced consumption of red meat and dairy products.