MEDITERRANEAN DIET ‘CUTS RISK OF HEART DISEASE’

A review of 50 existing academic papers, which looked at half a million people, found that those who ate the traditional meals served in Greece or Italy were less likely to have the health problems that can lead to heart disease.

It follows previous claims that eating meals rich in olive oil, fresh vegetables, fruit and fish – rather than red meat and dairy products – is effective in protecting against cancer and dementia.

In the latest study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers at Harokopio University of Athens looked at the effects of the Mediterranean diet on “metabolic syndrome”, a combination of disorders such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure that often lead to heart disease or stroke.

They found that existing studies showed that a Mediterranean diet has “proven beneficial effects” in reducing metabolic syndrome itself and its constituent parts, such as a large waist, high blood pressure and high levels of fat known as triglycerides in the bloodstream.

The “antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects” of the food stuffs are thought to contribute to their lowering of heart disease risk.

For the full article: Telegraph.co.uk