According to a study, the Mediterranean diet can reduce a woman’s chance of early death by almost a quarter.
In a study of more than 700,000 women, the famous diet reduced a woman’s chance of dying from any cause by 23 percent. Australian researchers also found a similar decrease in deaths from heart disease and stroke.
Rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, fish and olive oil, the diet has been praised in recent years for its brain-stimulating and heart-strengthening effects.
A study last week found it could even reduce a person’s risk of dementia.
Researchers found that women who ate a Mediterranean diet — high in fish, nuts and vegetables — were 23 percent less likely to die from any cause in a given year (file photo).
The Mediterranean diet is called the “gold standard” by experts. Some have even declared it a form of preventive medicine.
It came onto American doctors’ radars in the 1950s when reports of low rates of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s and heart disease began to appear.
Further research found that the typical diets of people in the area played a role in their good health.
Since then, a growing number of studies have confirmed the benefits of a diet rich in vegetables and healthy fats.
However, whether one gender benefits more from the diet than the other has not been studied much.
For their study, published in the journal Heart, a team from the University of Sydney combined data from 16 studies published between 2003 and 2021.
The studies, mainly from the US and Europe, include data from hundreds of thousands of women aged 18 and over.
Their cardiovascular health was followed for an average of 12.5 years.
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Following a Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 24 percent, researchers found.
It also reduced the chance of death from any cause by 23 percent. The risk of coronary heart disease was 25 percent lower and the likelihood of having a stroke was lower.
However, the reason why this diet is particularly beneficial for women is unknown.
The author of the study, Dr. Sarah Zaman, one of the study’s authors, said: “The mechanisms that explain the gender-specific effect of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular disease and death remain unclear.
Female-specific cardiovascular risk factors, including premature menopause, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, or female-predominant risk factors such as systemic lupus, can all independently increase cardiovascular disease risk.
“Possibly, preventive measures such as a Mediterranean diet, which target inflammation and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, have different effects in women than in men.”
Cardiovascular diseases account for more than a third of all deaths among women worldwide.
However, many clinical trials and studies include relatively few women and often do not report results by gender.
Even the current guidelines on how best to reduce cardiovascular disease do not distinguish between genders.
This latest study calls for more gender-specific research to guide clinical practice in heart health.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
