Mediterranean Diet Benefits

Support for Med Diet's Heart Benefits Keeps Growing

AUGUST 13, 2007 -- According to an article on FoodNavigator.com, consuming a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish may reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 30 percent, says Australia's largest study of eating habits.
The research, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adds to an ever-growing list of research supporting the health benefits of consuming a traditional Mediterranean diet, with evidence linking the diet to lower incidence of heart disease, obesity and certain types of cancers.

"The Mediterranean diet is a rich source of antioxidants, monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, and relatively low in saturated fats. This combination is believed to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties that may help reduce cardiovascular disease," said lead author Linton Harriss from Monash University. "Foods frequently in the diet included garlic, cucumber, olive oil, salad greens, capsicum, legumes, tomato, feta and ricotta cheeses, olives, onion, watermelon, steamed fish and boiled chicken," he added.

The researchers calculated that highest adherence to the Mediterranean-style diet was associated with a 41 percent reduction in ischaemic heart disease (IHD), characterized by a reduction in blood flow to the heart.

When vegetables and fresh fruit were considered separately, beneficial associations were observed mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), with risk reductions of 34 and 31 per cent, respectively, for the highest versus lowest average intakes.

"Our findings suggest that frequent consumption of traditional Mediterranean foods is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality after controlling for important risk factors and country of birth," concluded the researchers.The components of the diet that are reported to offer health benefits include antioxidants that help reduce oxidative damage, monounsaturated fats that help to lower cholesterol, omega-3s, believed to stabilize the heart rhythm, and fiber that may assist in lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors.