Studies Show Mediterranean Diet Can Lower Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease

The way you eat can affect your health either positively or negatively. As a student of an online culinary school, you’re aware of this fact. However, it goes further than junk food in increasing body weight. Several studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular illnesses.

Reducing risk
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine split participants into three groups. All the participants were at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease, though none had a condition at the beginning of the study. A third of the group was told to adhere to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil, another third had the same diet, only supplemented with nuts. The final third was put on a controlled diet in which participants reduced dietary fat.

At the end of the study period, the two groups eating a Mediterranean diet saw improvements in their risk factor. Both olive oil and nuts proved to be effective.

“This is a very important step in confirming a truly causal relationship between the [Mediterranean-style diet] and cardiovascular protection,” Miguel Martínez-Gonzalez, a researcher at the University of Navarra in Spain and study author, told National Public Radio.

Another study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, came to similar conclusions. In fact, researchers concluded that people eating a Mediterranean diet compared to those on a low-fat diet were 30 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular illness.

Olive oil wellness
Olive oil consists of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which are considered healthy dietary fats. They can lower bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and normalize blood clotting. Olive oil is high in calories, so healthy moderation is important.

A Mediterranean diet is full of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil. You can get the heart-healthy benefits by trying your hand at recipes featuring these foods.