Recently I’ve read a new study from the Predimed study – supported by the Spanish Health Ministry. This research confirm the mechanism by which the Mediterranean diet prevents the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) because decrease the oxidative damage to LDL cholesterol and it is an useful tool against the atherosclerosis development.
The research was conduced by 17 groups of Spanish researchers in 200 health centers in Spain and 9000 patients with high risk of cardiovascular disease.
The researchers provided two type of diets:
- The Mediterranean diet (a group with Olive oil and another group with nuts- 15g walnuts, 7.5g hazelnuts, and 7.5g almonds-)
- A low fat diet
After the 3 months of tests the groups that followed the Mediterranean diets (high in fruit and vegetables +olive oil or nuts) reduced:
- Blood lipids
- Arterial pressure
- Fasting blood glucose
- Inflammation
All risk factors for heart disease and had increased the HDL cholesterol levels (good cholesterol)
These results established that these positive effects in the long term could reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack of 50%.
Additionally there were no increases in body weight.
There are thousand of studies and researches that confirm the health and weight loss benefits of this type of Diet…but when this principles will be plain used by people?
Today i went to the beach (I live in Sicily,Italy) and i’m surprised to see how many “Fat” people there are…i really can’t understand how a person doesn’t understand that principally diet isn’t a beauty fact but and health fact!!
I saw a lot of over weight children and i can’t understand why their parents don’t do nothing to help and prevent their future weight…
We are becoming more and more advanced and high tech…but what’s the price?
You can read more info here:
- Fits M., Estruch R., Ros E. and others. Effect of a traditional Mediterranean diet on lipoprotein oxidation: A randomized, controlled trial; Archives of Internal Medicine, June 11, 2007.
- Estruch R., Ros E. and others. Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular risk factors. A randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, July 4, 2006.
