Meta-Analysis Of 50 Studies Finds Many Health Benefits From Mediterranean Diet

Researchers from Greece and Italy have confirmed in a meta-analysis of 50 studies involving half a million people that the Mediterranean diet has a beneficial effect not only on metabolic syndrome, but also on waist circumference, HDL-cholesterol levels, triglycerides levels, blood pressure levels and glucose metabolism. The Mediterranean diet is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids from olives and olive oils; fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals; low-fat dairy products; fish, poultry, tree nuts, and legumes; low consumption of red meat; and moderate consumption of alcohol. “This dietary pattern can be easily adopted by all population groups and various cultures and cost-effectively serve for primary and secondary prevention of metabolic syndrome and its individual components,” the researchers observed.