The Mediterranean diet is known to boost heart health. But a recent study review shows that it can reduce heart disease risk by 24% and early death risk by 23% in women.
The research was compiled by Prof. Sarah Zaman, a member of the Westmead Applied Research Centre at the University of Sydney. She told the press that this study supports previous studies establishing the heart-healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet. But it highlights the fact that it can be just as beneficial for women as it is for men.
In 2020, heart disease was a driving factor in the deaths of one out of five women. Yet scientists consistently highlight men when conducting cardiovascular health research.
Senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation Victoria Taylor acknowledges that the Mediterranean diet has been established as beneficial to heart health. But she says it’s encouraging to see it being studied for its effects on women. And the fact that it is producing positive results in both genders is even more promising.
What Did the Review Entail?
The review, which was published in the Heart Journal, analyzed studies on the Mediterranean diet that separated men and women. Women were given points for eating diets rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, seafood, and nuts and cutting back on the consumption of processed foods and red meat. This is the type of meal routine the diet recommends.
It was found that women who followed the diet had a 24% lower risk of heart disease and a 23% lower risk of early death as compared to those who didn’t follow the diet. There was also a decrease in strokes, although the results weren’t statistically significant.
Dr. Roxana Mehran, a cardiologist, and director of cardiovascular research and clinical trials at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said she was excited to see the data because previous studies on the diet had little to no information on women’s health. She was not involved in the study.
Although the recent review highlighted women’s health, the Mediterranean diet has similar effects on men’s health. Men who stick to a Mediterranean diet have a 22% lower risk of heart disease and a 23% lower risk of early death as compared to those who don’t follow the diet.
Limitations to the Study
Taylor pointed out that the review had limitations. All 16 of the studies considered were observational and therefore, did not show cause and effect. They also mainly used self-reports of food intake which are not reliable because they can be affected by memory.
The authors of the study acknowledge the limitations and understand that more sex-specific research is needed to support their findings.
However, it has been well established that the foods included in the Mediterranean diet are effective in lowering the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other cardiovascular issues. Will you be making the switch?
