Mediterranean Diet heals the heart

A Mediterranean Diet is characterised by high levels of fruit, vegetables, fish, and unrefined foods. By contrast a “Western Diet” contains lots of refined grains, sugar, sweetened drinks, and deep-fried food. It might be no surprise to learn that a Mediterranean Diet is much better for your heart but it is good news that switching to a Mediterranean Diet can help even if you already have heart disease.

For the study researchers used data from 15,482 people average age 67, with stable coronary artery disease. Subjects completed questionnaires about their diet that included how many times a week they ate whole grains or refined grains, meat, fish, dairy, fruit, desserts, sweets, sweetened drinks, deep-fried foods, vegetables (excluding potatoes), and how frequently they drank alcohol. Based on this information each person received a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) that ranged from 0 to 24. A Western Diet Score (WDS) was also given.

After adjusting for other lifestyle factors, it emerged that for each one point increase in an MDS score, there was a 7 per cent reduction in risk of heart attack, stroke, or death…This boils down to fewer heart attacks being experienced among people who eat a Mediterranean style diet.

At the end of an almost four year study period it emerged that among people with an MDS score over 15 only 7.3 per cent of people experienced a major adverse cardiac event (MACE). However, as the MDS score dropped, the chance of an MACE increased. Among those with an MDS score of 13 to 14 there were 10.5 per cent who had an MACE, and among those with an MDS score of 12 or lower 10.8 per cent had an MACE.

Additionally, after adjusting for other lifestyle factors, it emerged that for each one point increase in an MDS score, there was a 7 per cent reduction in risk of heart attack, stroke, or death.

In all, this boils down to fewer heart attacks being experienced among people who eat a Mediterranean style diet. For every 100 people eating the highest proportion of Mediterranean type foods there were three fewer heart attacks, strokes, or deaths than among the 100 with the lowest intake of healthy foods.

That has to be heartening news.