Women who follow the Mediterranean diet have an almost 25% lower risk of heart disease and premature death, in keeping with a recent evaluation.
Research by a team at the University of Sydney published in the journal Heart journal analyzed data from 16 studies conducted between 2003 and 2021.
Study participants were mostly from the US and Europe and consisted of over 700,000 women aged 18 years and older, and their cardiovascular status was monitored for a median of 12.5 years.
The results suggest that strict adherence to the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 24% – specifically 25% for coronary heart disease – and the risk of all-cause mortality by 23%
The Mediterranean Diet – Voted the best diet overall for the sixth 12 months in a row US news and world report — emphasizes the importance of sourcing and filling your plate with nutrient-rich whole foods and grains, with an emphasis on fresh produce, lean protein reminiscent of fish and chicken, and of course, antioxidant-rich olive oil.
The Med diet is derived from the traditional diets of 21 Mediterranean countries, where it’s wealthy in fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts and olives.
It just isn’t clear why this diet is especially useful for women, and more research on gender can be needed to guide clinical practice.
“The mechanisms explaining the gender-specific effects of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular disease and death remain unclear,” said study writer Dr. Sarah Zaman. “Female-specific cardiovascular risk aspects, including premature menopause, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes, or dominant female risk aspects reminiscent of systemic lupus, may independently increase cardiovascular disease risk.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the US In keeping with the CDC. In 2020, it was answerable for about one-fifth of female deaths.
Zaman continued, “It is feasible that preventive measures reminiscent of the Mediterranean diet, which targets inflammation and risk aspects for cardiovascular disease, have different effects in women than in men.”
An earlier Harvard University study found that the Mediterranean diet was one of 4 common healthy eating patterns that would help reduce the risk of premature death by as much as 20%.