Mediterranean Diet Cuts Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds

February 25, 2013New York Times

Gina Kolata

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

O Eating primarily plant-based foods.O Fruits, vegetables,

whole grains and nuts.O Replacing butter with

olive oil or canola oil.O Using herbs and spices

instead of salt to add flavor to food.

O Limiting red meat to a few times a month.

O Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week.

O Drinking red wine in moderation (optional).

University of BarcelonaO Previous studies showed that people from

Mediterranean countries had lower rates of heart disease.

O Scientists randomly assigned 7,447 people ages 55-80 in Spain who were at high risk for heart disease.O Mediterranean diet (2/3)O Low-fat diet (1/3)

O To assess complianceO Measured urine for olive oil consumption

(hydroxytyrosol).O Measured blood for nut consumption

(alpha-linolenic acid)

ResultsO Participants were counseled about

diet and regularly met with dieticians. O Low-fat diet was hard to maintain.

O Most participants didn’t lower fat intake that much.

O They changed the study and compared Mediterranean diet to modern diet.

O Mediterranean diet was accurately followed by almost all participants.

ResultsO 30% of heart attacks, strokes and deaths

from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk by following the Mediterranean diet.O Magnitude of diets benefits were

astonishing to scientists.O Also found to reduce risk of:

O Cancer and cancer mortalityO Incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s

diseaseO More research needs to be done to

establish benefits for low-risk.O Childhood

More results…

CostsO Modern diet: $10 per dayO Mediterranean diet: $16 per dayO Cost of a heart attack:

O Severe: $1,000,000O Less severe: $760,000

O Charges for hospitals, doctors, prescription drugs and time away from work.

O Average person pays $878 per year for societal costs of heart disease.

ReferencesO http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-

505146_162-39940799/how-much-would-a-heart-attack-cost-you/

O http://www.mediterraneanbook.com/2010/02/27/cost-eat-mediterranean/

O http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/heart-disease-medical-costs

O http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/CL00011

O http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/health/mediterranean-diet-can-cut-heart-disease-study-finds.html?pagewanted=1&ref=health