A Mediterranean Diet Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease And Could Benefit Diabetics

An Australian study found that Mediterranean-born immigrants in Australia have lower death rates from heart disease than native-born Australians and this could be attributed to their dietary patterns.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne looked at over 40,000 men and women aged between 40 and 69 years. 24 percent of whom were born in the Mediterranean region while the rest were born in Australia. The participants were followed for ten years and they were given food questionnaires to enable the researchers to determine their intake of Mediterranean foods, meat, vegetables and fresh fruits.

Those who followed the principles of the Mediterranean diet had a 30 percent less risk of dying of cardiovascular disease than those who were least close to the diet.

It was noted that such a diet is particularly important for diabetics in reducing the risk of death due to ischemic heart disease. Ischemic means that an organ is not getting enough blood and oxygen.

The Mediterranean diet is characterised by higher intakes of plant foods and fish, moderate intake of wine and lower intake of animal products. Other foods part of the diet included olive oil, olives, garlic, cucumber, salad greens, capsicum, legumes, tomato, feta and ricotta cheeses, onion, watermelon, steamed fish and boiled chicken.

Source: “Mediterranean diet is best to prevent heart disease”
Monash University News & Events, 1 August 2007; Reuters Health, 27 July 2007; Linton RH et al “Dietary patterns and cardiovascular mortality in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (July 2007) 86(1):221-229

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