Mixed
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) significantly reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality, in both primary and secondary prevention populations.
Adopt a Mediterranean-style eating pattern as your primary dietary strategy for heart health. Prioritize extra-virgin olive oil as your main fat source, consume plenty of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts, and include moderate amounts of fish and poultry. If you are at high risk for heart disease, this pattern has been shown in large trials to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke compared to standard low-fat advice.
The most consistent and robust evidence for the health benefits of the MedDiet has been observed for cardiovascular risk factors and CVD incidence... adherence to the MedDiet reduced mortality, especially cardiovascular mortality, hence increased longevity.
Why this rating
Supported by large-scale RCTs (PREDIMED, Lyon Diet Heart Study) and extensive meta-analyses of prospective cohorts.
Source
The Mediterranean diet and health: a comprehensive overview
Marta Guasch‐Ferré et al. · Journal of Internal Medicine · 2021
DOI 10.1111/joim.13333
More from this paper
- Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and improves glycaemic control in patients with existing type 2 diabetes.Good
- Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, and improves cognitive function in older adults.Good
- Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is not associated with weight gain and may facilitate weight loss, particularly when energy-restricted, without the deleterious effects of low-fat diets.Good
Related findings · Mixed
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