It’s a disease few people are aware of.
Yet being diagnosed with peripheral heart disease is no laughing matter–as having this disease significantly increases a person’s risk for heart attack or stroke.
But now researchers say there may be a new way to fight it–while losing weight.
The solution? The Mediterranean Diet: a diet previously shown to also fight type 2 diabetes and heart attack.
“To our knowledge, this is the first randomized primary prevention trial to suggest an association between a dietary intervention and PAD,” say study authors, whose work was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “These results are consistent with previous observational studies and relevant from a public health perspective.”
What Researchers Discovered About the Mediterranean Diet
Investigating a total of 7,477 participants consisting of both men and women, researchers first evaluated their health markers, which showed none of them had peripheral artery disease, although they did have type 2 diabetes. Researchers then randomly assigned them to one of three diets: A Mediterranean diet containing extra virgin olive oil, a Mediterranean diet containing nuts, and a low fat diet. Researchers then followed the participants for a total of 7 years, from 2003 to 2010.
Nearly 5 years into the study, however, 89 participants developed peripheral artery disease.
But what was more remarkable was what kept more of them from developing this condition.
“At the midpoint of the study (4.8 years), 89 of the participants developed PAD,” says Honor Whiteman, a contributor to Medical News Today. “However, the researchers found that groups who followed the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts had a significantly lower risk of developing PAD, compared with the group following the low-fat diet.”
In conclusion, experts say this may provide even more evidence supporting the Mediterranean Diet–and should be a diet for older Americans to follow.
How to Eat a Mediterranean Diet
We all know about the health effects of eating a Mediterranean-based diet, but how exactly do we follow the diet? If you’re unsure how to eat right, here are some tips to follow:
- Choose foods high in dietary fiber. Nuts, beans, and whole wheat products all contain enough fiber to keep your digestive system healthy (as well as make it easier to lose weight).
- Cut out foods high in trans or saturated fat. Both types of fat are bad for your heart, according to previous reports, and can make it harder to lose weight. You’ll typically find these fats in processed foods, such as cookies.
- Increase your intake of foods high in monounsaturated fat. Foods containing “good fats,” such as olive oil or nuts, are a great way to keep your heart protected and decrease your appetite.
Overall, it’s all about cutting out the bad stuff and adding more of the good here–processed foods, foods high in fat, and junk food just won’t make you feel (and look) better.
Readers: Would you follow the Mediterranean diet? Why or why not?
Source:
Study: Mediterranean Diet Decreases Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease – MedicalNewsToday.com
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