We’ve all heard of the Mediterranean diet, right? Lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, olive oil and fish. Honestly, it sounds like the dream diet. And studies now show that it’s more than that.
Adopting a Mediterranean lifestyle has the potential to diminish mortality risks, including fatalities from to cancer and heart disease.
People who love the Mediterranean diet really love it, touting it as the pinnacle of health-conscious eating. And for good reason; it spotlights the consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, fish, and legumes, with a moderate and healthy inclusion of wine, while discouraging significant consumption of red meat, heavily processed and fried foods, refined grains, sugar, and saturated fat.
Using that as a jumping off point, the Mediterranean lifestyle encompasses more than dietary choices. It entails communal dining experiences, relishing meals, ensuring ample rest and sleep, nurturing our social bonds, and engaging in regular physical activity, as found by a recent study’s authors in their publication in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The research was conducted by scholars from La Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the US. The full entailed an exploration of dietary practices, including the moderation of salt and the consumption of nourishing beverages. Additionally, lifestyle behaviors such as incorporating frequent naps, engaging in exercise, and fostering social connections were investigated. Participants were monitored over the course of 9 years.
The study’s findings unveiled that adults in the UK who embraced a Mediterranean lifestyle exhibited a 29% diminished risk of all-cause mortality and a 28% reduced risk of succumbing to cancer, in comparison to their non-adherent counterparts. Notably, individuals who really stuck to the lifestyle’s principles of rest, exercise, and social interaction with friends, displayed a decreased susceptibility to cardiovascular deaths.
So what does that mean? Go outside, hang out with friends, eat your veggies, and have some wine every now and then!