The Mediterranean diet, rich in fresh produce, olive oil, fish, and wine, has long been touted for its health benefits. People in countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece tend to live longer and be trimmer and healthier than Americans, and two recent studies have found that the diet has impressive powers for improving your heart and brain health.
For one study, researchers from Spain divided people who were at-risk for heart disease into three groups: a Mediterranean diet with extra olive oil, a Mediterranean diet with walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds, or one more typical of an American diet with lots of meat and dairy. They found that those who ate the Mediterranean diet were 30 percent less likely to develop heart problems. The diet supplemented with olive oil also resulted in a 33 percent lower risk for suffering a stroke, while the diet supplemented with nuts resulted in a 46 percent lower stroke risk.
Another study published in the journal Neurology found that those who ate a Mediterranean diet were 19 percent less likely to develop thinking and memory problems than those who ate more meat and dairy. The researchers pointed to the diet’s richness in omega-3 fatty acids, which previous studies have linked to affecting levels of a substance in the brain related to Alzheimer’s disease.
“It’s amazing that a lifestyle intervention, purely diet, can make such a profound difference in someone’s life,” says Steven H. Kunkes, M.D., a cardiologist at Bridgeport Hospital and Cardiac Specialists in Fairfield.
He says the healthiest aspects of the Mediterranean diet are that it contains very little meat; replaces butter with olive oil, which is a healthy fat; and is chock-full of fresh fruits and vegetables.
“Diet is exceptionally important, but physical activity is also very important,” says Dr. Kunkes, pointing out that the combination of a healthy diet and exercise can ward off heart disease, memory loss, and even some cancers.
Check out these options for reaping the benefits of the Mediterranean diet right here in Fairfield County:
Barcelona
Locations in Greenwich, South Norwalk, and Stamford
Da Pietro’s
36 Riverside Ave, Westport
EOS Greek Cuisine
490 Summer St, Stamford
Mediterraneo
366 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich
Osianna Mediterranean Taverna
70 Reef Rd, Fairfield