Scientific evidence has proved that the Mediterranean dietary pattern seems to be the best way to tackle obesity.
Scientists say that Mediterranean food intake could be better than low-fat diets for sustained weight loss and lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
People should focus on eating “healthy foods,” rather than counting calories, according to the research published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal (PMJ).
“What's more responsible is that we tell people to concentrate on eating nutritious foods,” said the journal's lead author Dr. Aseem Malhotra, who is a cardiologist at Croydon University Hospital in the UK.
The Mediterranean dietary pattern was also proved to play a significant role in decreasing the odds of developing muscle weakness and other signs of frailty in old age.
Researchers found that the combination of the two food groups, unsaturated fats and nitrogen compounds, led to the formation of nitro fatty acids, protecting body against blood pressure.
The Mediterranean food typically includes unsaturated fats found in olive oil, nuts and avocados, along with vegetables like spinach, celery and carrots that are rich in nitrites and nitrates.
The popular diet of the region is usually high in antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids like omega-3, which supports brain and heart health.
According to an earlier study, a diet full of fruits, vegetables and fish, and avoiding alcohol will lower the risk of death caused by stroke and heart attack.
Adopting a Mediterranean diet also long believed to protect individuals against cancer and depression.
“High content of olive oil in such diet, however, is believed to enhance the amount of serotonin, the main brain transmitter, targeted by the majority of anti-depression drugs, lowering the risk of the condition.”
Poor diet is linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and several kinds of cancer.
