Featured Review: Mediterranean-style diet for the prevention of cardiovascular disease

In this Q&A we asked the lead author Professor Saverio Stranges from Western University Canada to explain more about the mediterranean diet and its role in preventing cardiovascular disease following the publication of aCochrane Review on this topic. What makes a diet ‘Mediterranean’?Scientific interest in the traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern originated in the 1960s because of the observation that populations in countries of the Mediterranean region, such as Greece and Italy, had lower mortality from cardiovascular disease compared with northern European populations or the US, probably as a result of different eating habits. Key components of a Mediterranean dietary pattern are a high monounsaturated/saturated fat ratio (use of olive oil as main cooking ingredient and/or consumption of other traditional foods high in monounsaturated fats such as tree nuts) and a high intake of plant based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and legumes. How might consuming these kinds of foods help to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke?There is ample observational and experimental evidence supporting potential mechanisms to explain the beneficial effect of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular health. For example, there is evidence of favourable effects of the Mediterranean diet on insulin resistance and endothelium-dependent vasoreactivity, as well as of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the Mediterranean diet and its individual components such ...
Source: Cochrane News and Events - Category: Information Technology Authors: Source Type: news