Mixed
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) reduces the incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CVD, metabolic syndrome, cancer, cognitive decline) and all-cause mortality.
Adopt a Mediterranean-style eating pattern as your default long-term lifestyle. Prioritize plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains), use extra virgin olive oil as your primary fat, eat fish and poultry moderately, limit red meat and sweets, and enjoy moderate wine with meals if you drink. Combine this with regular physical activity and social meals. This pattern is associated with the strongest evidence for preventing chronic diseases and extending healthy lifespan.
Various dietary patterns have been associated with health benefits, but the largest body of evidence in the literature is attributable to the traditional dietary habits and lifestyle followed by populations from the Mediterranean region... reinforced the beneficial effects associated with a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet in reference to the prevention/management of age-associated non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, depression, respiratory diseases, and fragility fractures.
Why this rating
The paper reviews prospective observational studies, RCTs (PREDIMED), and meta-analyses, describing the evidence as 'compelling' and 'largest body of evidence'.
Source
Impact of Mediterranean Diet on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases and Longevity
Ligia J. Domínguez et al. · Nutrients · 2021
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