Mediterranean diet associated with 23 per cent reduction in mortality, study finds

Historically, there has always been a substantive body of work that suggests that the Mediterranean diet is good for the heart, however, recent research has come out that shows that it could even reduce your risk of death to a major degree.

Mortality Was Reduced By 23% In Those That Followed A Mediterranean Diet

Published in the JAMA Network Open, the study focused on more than 25,000 women over the age of 25 and found that the diet had reduced their risk of overall mortality by 23%. Quite significantly, the study also showed a reduction in fatality in those patients who had cardiovascular disease and tumours.

Following the traditions of the Mediterranean itself, the diet mainly consists of fruits, vegetables, fish, grains and cereals. As a general rule, people also make an effort to eat more red meat and drink less alcohol which has been known to have an effect on your dietary health.

The study collected basic health information between 1993 and 1996, which assessed 33 different categories like body weight, lifestyle and other factors. All participants were healthcare professionals, although their mean age was 54.6 years, and they had a health checkup every six months in the first year and then one year later. The data was mainly analyzed using health and mortality data from 2018 to 2023 to determine the causes of death and the total number of deaths.

Participants who followed a Mediterranean diet had a lower BMI and followed a healthy lifestyle that included fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Researchers have found that people who eat more vegetables and fish eat less red and processed meat. A high Mediterranean diet score is associated with a healthy metabolic profile.

Why Mediterranean Diets Are Considered Healthier

This isn't the first time studies have suggested dieting as a way to eat better. A study last year found that the diet helped reduce women's risk of heart disease by 24 per cent, analyzing 16 previous studies.

However it should be noted that this study has several limitations, such as the lack of racial and ethnic groups. The students are middle-aged or older, well-educated and speak predominantly Latin. The authors acknowledged that this may limit the generalizability of the study results. Dietary adherence was also assessed using dietary questionnaires that included group differences.

In spite of these limitations, the study contributes to the growing body of evidence that supports the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. It also affirms the role that food could play to promote health and longevity. Therefore, we can recommend the Mediterranean diet as part of a healthy lifestyle to many people.