Macro partitioning
Adherence to an energy-unrestricted Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts significantly increases the likelihood of metabolic syndrome reversion compared to a low-fat diet, without preventing new-onset incidence.
If you are at high risk for heart disease or metabolic syndrome, switching to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil or nuts can help reverse your condition, even if you do not lose weight. Focus on adding these specific fats to your diet rather than restricting calories. While this may not stop new cases of metabolic syndrome from developing, it significantly increases your chances of reversing existing symptoms like central obesity and high blood sugar.
Compared with the control group, participants on either Mediterranean diet were more likely to undergo reversion (control v. olive oil HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.15–1.58, p < 0.001; control v. nuts HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.08–1.51, p < 0.001)... The risk of developing metabolic syndrome did not differ between participants assigned to the control diet and those assigned to either of the Mediterranean diets
Why this rating
Large-scale, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (PREDIMED) with long-term follow-up (median 4.8 years) and rigorous statistical adjustment.
Source
Mediterranean diets and metabolic syndrome status in the PREDIMED randomized trial
Nancy Babió et al. · Canadian Medical Association Journal · 2014
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