LifestyleThe Mediterranean diet prevents heart attacks in people at high risk of having them

The Mediterranean diet prevents heart attacks in people at high risk of having them

A large study, the first of its kind to date, involving more than 35,000 patients, has provided strong evidence that Mediterranean diet reduces the chance of death and heart attack in those at higher risk of heart conditions. Which means millions of people who today live with diabetes, obesity, hypertension or high cholesterol. Also for those who smoke or are physically inactive. It is estimated that by 2030 nearly 23.6 million people may die from one of these conditions.

“It is also likely that the Mediterranean plans reduce the risk of stroke“, points out the review published in the journal bmj.

A Mediterranean diet means prioritizing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, oily fish and olive oil, with modest amounts of meat and low-fat dairy products. What it means to assume most of the key dietary changes that will help keep your heart healthy.

“Moderate-certainty evidence shows that programs [de alimentación] that promote the Mediterranean and low-fat diets, with or without physical activity or other interventions, reduce all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarctions [ataques cardíacos] in patients with increased cardiovascular risk,” the study authors wrote.

The potential benefit could be due to its contribution of healthy unsaturated fats

An international team of researchers, including Spanish scientists, reviewed a total of 40 randomized controlled trials involving 35,548 participants at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

They were followed for a mean of 3 years, comparing up to 7 dietary programs with minimal intervention. —This includes patients who did not receive any dietary advice; they were referred to their own doctor, or received only dietary information.

The diets analyzed were Mediterranean, low fat, very low fat, fat modified, combined low fat and low sodium, Ornish (vegetarian diet, low fat and refined sugar), and Pritikin (plant-based diet, which limit processed foods).

The Mediterranean diet was better than the minimal intervention for prevent all-cause mortality, nonfatal heart attack, and stroke in people at risk of cardiovascular disease. Low-fat programs were also superior to minimal intervention for preventing all-cause mortality and nonfatal heart attack.

The rest of the plans analyzed had little or no benefit compared with a minimal intervention, based on low-to-moderate-certainty evidence.

It is not the first time that scientific evidence suggests that eating the style Mediterranean has a great ability to reduce the risk of heart disease. Considered the best diet in the world, it is believed that its contribution of healthy unsaturated fats present in foods such as olive oil, nuts and fish could provide these cardiovascular benefits.

A 2022 study by researchers at the University of Córdoba and Spain’s Reina Sofía University Hospital noted a 26% reduction in the odds of experiencing a major cardiovascular problem in patients with coronary artery disease compared to a low-fat diet.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Posts

Read More
More