{"id":5549,"date":"2023-07-10T08:42:51","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T08:42:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=5549"},"modified":"2023-07-10T08:42:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T08:42:51","slug":"experts-weigh-in-on-why-the-mediterranean-diet-is-good-for-womens-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/experts-weigh-in-on-why-the-mediterranean-diet-is-good-for-womens-heart-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Experts Weigh In On Why the Mediterranean Diet Is Good For Women\u2019s Heart Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A recent study has helped further support the longstanding recommendation that many doctors give about the Mediterranean diet and its many benefits for maintaining a healthy heart. This research highlights the potential to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death, especially in women.<\/p>\n

In order to conduct the study, a team of researchers gathered data from 16 previously published studies involving over 720,000 female participants. These studies looked at the relationship between diet and heart disease. The results<\/a>, published in the journal Heart<\/a>, showed that women who followed the Mediterranean-style diet closely had a 24 percent lower chance of developing cardiovascular diseases and a 23 percent lower likelihood of premature death from any cause.<\/p>\n

The study reaffirms the positive impact of the Mediterranean diet on women\u2019s cardiovascular health and overall longevity. By following this dietary pattern, individuals can enhance their well-being and mitigate the risks of heart disease and premature mortality.<\/p>\n

Senior study author, Sarah Zaman, MBBS, PhD<\/a>, and academic interventional\u00a0cardiologist<\/a>\u00a0and associate professor at the University of Sydney<\/a> in Australia, said, \u201cThere\u2019s no \u2018one-diet-fits-all,\u2019 but there are key heart-friendly foods and nutrients that may make\u00a0the Mediterranean diet<\/a>\u00a0particularly beneficial to help reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDiet plays a huge role in preventing cardiovascular events and early deaths. Poor diet is linked with many lifestyle-related\u00a0risk factors of heart disease<\/a>\u00a0like obesity,\u00a0high blood pressure<\/a>, and\u00a0type 2 diabetes<\/a>, and these can all substantially increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease,\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Dr. Zaman adds.<\/p>\n

The Mediterranean Diet Can Benefit Hearts in Women of All Races<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Moreover, the protective influence of a Mediterranean diet on women\u2019s cardiovascular health seemed consistent across various racial and ethnic groups. The examination of studies predominantly involving white European women revealed 24 percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease events associated with the Mediterranean diet. Similarly, in studies encompassing women from diverse regions and racial or ethnic backgrounds, the diet was linked to a 21 percent lower risk.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge a limitation of the study. The inclusion of smaller studies in the analysis introduced the possibility of self-reported dietary habits, which could have led to inaccuracies in recalling or reporting adherence to a Mediterranean-style eating pattern. The researchers highlight the need for caution when interpreting these findings due to this potential source of bias.<\/p>\n

According to a professor of epidemiology and population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center<\/a> in New York City,\u00a0Michal Melamed, MD<\/a>, says, \u201cThese studies are observational in nature and therefore it may not just be the diet, but other things the women were doing that made them less likely to have cardiovascular events.\u201d<\/strong><\/em> Notably, Dr. Melamed was not involved in the study.<\/p>\n

Regardless, Dr. Melamed also says that the findings are still in line with the other diet research. Furthermore, the results were found to also be in line with recommendations from the American Heart Association<\/a>, which endorses the Mediterranean diet as \u2018a heart-healthy eating pattern that can reduce the risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular disease.\u2019<\/p>\n

What Exactly Is the Mediterranean Diet?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

These are the hallmarks of a Mediterranean diet:<\/p>\n