Mediterranean diet 'cuts strokes and heart attacks in at-risk groups'

Research shows diet can reduce risk for people who smoke, have type 2 diabetes or exhibit other unhealthy characteristicsFollowing a Mediterranean diet rich in either extra-virgin olive oil or nuts reduces the risk of people at risk of a heart attack or stroke suffering either event or dying of a heart condition by 30%, new research reveals.The findings, published online by the New England Journal of Medicine, offer hope to those in danger of a heart attack or stroke because they smoke, have type 2 diabetes or exhibit other unhealthy characteristics. They also confirm that the diet common in southern European countries, which involves consuming a lot of fruit, vegetables, fish and wine, and only small amounts of red meat or dairy products, offers protection against heart problems."A causal role of the Mediterranean diet in cardiovascular prevention has high biologic plausibility. The results of our trial might explain, in part, the lower cardiovascular mortality in Mediterranean countries than in northern Europe or the United States," the authors conclude.The risk of those on the diet having a stroke was significantly reduced, they found.Spanish researchers led by Prof Ramon Estruch, a professor of medicine at Barcelona University, studied 7,447 men aged 55 to 88 and women aged 60 to 80 between 2003 and 2009. None had any cardiovascular disease when they enrolled in the study, but all were at risk of it because they had type 2 diabetes or had at least three risk factors from ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Heart attack The Guardian Diets and dieting Health Medical research & wellbeing Food drink Society Life and style Editorial Science Source Type: news