EFN

A new study published by the BMJ, says that foods in the popular Mediterranean diet help to keep people alive longer.

The research team discovered key Mediterranean foods to promote health and a longer life are vegetables, fruits, nuts, pulses, and olive oil. Researchers suggest limiting the amount of meat you eat, and moderating alcohol consumption. The findings of the study also shows that a diet high in fish, seafood, and cereals, and low in dairy does not necessarily indicate longevity.

Professor Dimitrios Trichopoulos of Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA, and colleagues investigate the relative importance of these foods using figures from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition.

The research team analyzed over 23,000 men and women who were given dietary and lifestyle questionnaires when they enrolled onto the study and they were subsequently followed for 8.5 years. They were also asked about their smoking status, levels of physical activity and whether they had ever been diagnosed with cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

“One of the strengths of the Mediterranean diet is what it does not contain: high amounts of sugar and preservatives,” said New York-based weight and nutrition expert Dr. Jana Klauer. “The standard American diet stimulates the craving for sweet taste through overly sweetened foods.”

Ealier research has determined that sticking to the diet can protect the brain against developing Alzheimer’s and other memory problems, cut the chances of developing heart disease and even reduce the risk of being diagnosed with cancer.

The authors maintain that when high intake of vegetables, low intake of meat or moderate alcohol intake were excluded from the rating system, the benefits of following a Mediterranean diet were substantially reduced.