Mediterranean Diet Is Shown to Ward Off Heart Risks.

[elleng]

About 30 percent of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk if they switch to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, and even drink wine with meals, a large and rigorous new study has found.

The findings, published on The New England Journal of Medicine’s Web site on Monday, were based on the first major clinical trial to measure the diet’s effect on heart risks. The magnitude of the diet’s benefits startled experts. The study ended early, after almost five years, because the results were so clear it was considered unethical to continue.

The diet helped those following it even though they did not lose weight and most of them were already taking statins, or blood pressure or diabetes drugs to lower their heart disease risk.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/health/mediterranean-diet-can-cut-heart-disease-study-finds.html?hp

[NYC_SKP]

1. Being eye-talian (lol), I just need to get back to my roots!

I have prosciutto and olive oil on hand at all times!

[elleng]

2. Yes you do, SKP,

and I'll join you and your roots!!!

Read something recently, maybe at DU, that bottled olive oil, kind easily available at groceries, is RANCID, and the only kind to use is somehow more genuine, maybe in cans? You know anything about this?

prosciutto y meloni

[NYC_SKP]

4. I cannot find it in cans any longer, but we used to buy it that way, big ass cans of virgin oil!

I think that one needs to shop around- the good stuff can become rancid but none AFAIK are sold rancid.

I settle for Star bottled extra virgin olive oil from safeway, it can't be too hard to find good extra virgin olive oil!

[elleng]

5. That's what I've assumed.

[Lex]

3. I'm noticing it doesn't say bread and pasta.

Also -- "Low-fat diets have not been shown in any rigorous way to be helpful . . . " though they do recommend lowering intake of red meat.

[elleng]

6. 'Cause red meat isn't part of a Mediterranean diet???

'rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables'

[Lex]

7. Actually, they made comparisons in the article to other diets.

"the study wound up comparing the usual modern diet, with its regular consumption of red meat, sodas and commercial baked goods"

THAT is why red meat is mentioned in the article, as I stated.

[TM99]

8. As always, it confirms that moderation is always the best health choice.

Go to the actual NEJM.org article and it mentions red meats in moderation as well as cereals.

So yes, excessive baked goods are bad. Moderate amounts of rice and pasta are good. Excessive red meat is bad. Moderate amounts of red meat as well as fish & poultry are good. Excess amounts of fried foods with trans-fats are bad. Moderate amounts of good oils like Olive and Flax are good. Excessive amounts of alcohol are bad. Moderate amounts of red wine are good. And so on and so forth.

[ChristineKenneally]

9. More info

You can find more information about the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, as well as specific suggestions for how to eat this way at: www.eatmed.com

[elleng]

10. Welcome to DU!

and yes, I'd like to do somethings to emulate the Mediterranean lifestyle, like traveling to ITALY!!!


edit: Your suggested link looks GOOD! http://www.eatmed.com/
http://www.eatmed.com/the-mediterranean-diet/
http://www.eatmed.com/recipes/