Skip to main content

Mediterranean Diet Helps Maintain Lower Blood Pressure

Following a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in olive oil and fruit and vegetables, may improve vascular health and reduce the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), according to a new study.


Findings published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition report that a diet rich in olive oil and fruit and vegetables was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of hypertension.

The Mediterranean Diet is rich in cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil. Although it is the traditional diet of the Mediterranean region, it has garnered interest all over the world in recent times as a scientific spotlight has been trained on the health benefits it can confer.

For instance, recent research has indicated that the diet may have benefits for arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart health and blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, lung disease and allergies.

Led by Dr. Jorge Nunez-Cordoba from the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, the scientists analyzed data from 8,594 men and women with an average age of 41.1. According to the new data, fruit and vegetables were associated with a reduced risk of hypertension only in people with low olive oil consumption of less than 15 grams per day.

High blood pressure, defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Adopting a Vegetarian Diet

Adopting a vegetarian diet has become a popular choice for individuals looking to improve their health, particularly as heart disease and obesity rates continue to rise in many parts of the world. Vegetarians tend to have lower cholesterol levels and consume fewer trans fats than those who consume meat and dairy products. However, to maintain good health, vegetarians must ensure they obtain the right amount of nutrients from their vegan diets. By taking care to plan their diets carefully, vegetarians can enjoy a satisfying and tasty way of life. While there is no established vegan diet, it is widely agreed that with so many vegetarian diets to choose from, the choice is ultimately up to the individual. However, vegetarians must be cautious not to make their diets too restrictive as this can lead to difficulties in meeting the body's daily nutritional requirements. Commonly deficient nutrients among vegetarians include protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Soy pr...

4 Steps Tо Bеttеr Health

4 Steps Tо Bеttеr Health It's роѕѕіblе tо learn HOW tо bеttеr уоur health іn оnlу 4 steps аnd thіѕ article wіll show уоu how. Eасh step іѕ а bite-sized nugget оf healthy living information уоu саn асtuаllу use. Let's gеt started... Step 1: Nutritional Supplements In mу opinion, thеу аrе vеrу nесеѕѕаrу аnd vеrу beneficial- еѕресіаllу whеn combined wіth healthy eating habits. It's vеrу difficult tо gеt аll thе nutrients уоur body nееdѕ thrоugh food alone, but combining proper nutrition wіth nutritional supplements іѕ vеrу powerful. Thаt bеіng said, thе оnе supplement еvеrуоnе ѕhоuld bе tаkіng іѕ а good multi vitamin/mineral. Lооk аt іt аѕ added insurance- eating wеll іѕ crucial, but nоw thаt you're аlѕо tаkіng а multi, уоu саn rest assured you're gеttіng thе nutrients уоur body needs. Step 2: Nutrition Good nutrition іѕ SO important. Yоu аrе whаt уоu eat...remember that. Mаkе а conscious effort tо gradually improve уоur eating habits, eating mоrе оf th...

Is White Wine Good For Your Heart?

Is white wine as "heart healthy" as red wine? Here’s what you should know about the heart health benefits of white wine. The answer is  probably  -- though researchers continue to debate the question. Some studies have indicated that red wine is modestly better for the heart than white wine (or beer or spirits) because it contains resveratrol -- a polyphenol (plant chemical) associated with cardiovascular benefits, including reduced risk of heart attack. Resveratrol is found in the seeds and skin of grapes, which are crushed together with the pulp to make red wine. White wines, on the other hand, are made with just pulp and therefore contain very little resveratrol. But recent studies have shown that the pulp does contain other polyphenols that may be heart healthy. Moreover, although red and white wines differ in polyphenol composition, both contain similar amounts of alcohol -- which is known to increase level s of HDL ("good") cholesterol and prevent bl...