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HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET
Recent studies have demonstrated the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, consisting of a plant-based diet with a high intake of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, white meats, olive oil, and moderate consumption of dairy products and wine.
The Mediterranean diet provides a protective health effect for its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols derived from olive oil, and antioxidants found in fruits, legumes, vegetables, and wine.
Mediterranean Diet and Dementia
A 2023 study published by Newcastle University demonstrated that a Mediterranean diet consumption lowers the dementia risk by up to 23%. The team followed 60,298 individuals across the United Kingdom for an average of 9.1 years. They estimated each individual’s genetic risk for dementia through their polygenic risk, measuring all the different genes related to the risk of developing dementia.
Participants with higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet were women, had a BMI within the healthy range (< 25 kg/m2), had a higher educational level, and were more physically active than those with lower adherence.
