The Mediterranean Diet Nutrients Benefits The Heart

ST. CHARLES, Mo.–Olive extract, lycopene, chitin-glucan and green tea are promising nutrients present in the Mediterranean Diet that have been shown in clinical trials to reduce oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), a pro-atherogenic mediator and biomarker for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a recent article written by Joseph L. Evans, Ph.D., manager, pharmacology for Stratum Nutrition and Novus Research fellow (Agro Food Industry.2011 March/April;40-2). Supplements that contain these natural ingredients may therefore help reduce the growing incidence of CVD.

"There are several historically-used measurements for identifying individuals at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, including levels of LDL- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol and high blood pressure to name a few," Evans noted. "However, there are other biomarkers, including OxLDL and the OxLDL / HDL cholesterol ratio that have been shown in clinical research to be more sensitive indicators for discriminating between individuals with and without coronary artery disease (CAD) when compared to the commonly measured biomarkers. And consuming a Mediterranean diet is an effective way to reduce levels of OxLDL and improve overall cardiovascular health."

The Mediterranean Diet is rich in foods with strong antioxidant properties, such as fruits, vegetables, olive oil and nuts. Research has indicated that the nutrients contained in these foods increase the expression of those genes involved in our body's antioxidant defense system, and suppress those genes involved in advancing inflammation and atherogenesis. While the precise mechanism(s) responsible for nutrient-mediated reduction in OxLDL is unknown, it likely involves the increased expression of circulating and intracellular antioxidant enzymes, along with the inhibition of enzymes that contribute to increased production of reactive oxygen species.
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Expatriate Health Insurance news: Diet 'can help to prevent dementia'

Expatriate health insurance customers may wish to eat a healthy Mediterranean diet, after an expert claimed this can reduce the chances of a person developing dementia.

As foods from this region contain a high number of antioxidants, it is believed they can assist people in maintaining their cognitive abilities in later life, noted Hannah Clack, media manager at the Alzheimer's Society.

Researchers hope to utilise antioxidants to fight the progression of Alzheimer's, with the University of Dundee using sulforaphane, a chemical located in rocket and broccoli, to examine how the body's defences can be stimulated.

Obesity, however, can result in the risk of developing this illness doubling, whereas diet can result in the chances of it happening declining by a third, Ms Clack stated.

This must be combined with a lifestyle that includes abstinence from smoking, regular exercise and occasional monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol levels, she continued.

All of these are "things that can really help make sure that you are doing everything you can to hopefully avoid dementia", the expert concluded.
Expatriate Healthcare specialise in providing international health insurance.

DASH diet, Mediterranean Diet rated tops by U.S. News & World Report for health, effectiveness

U.S. News and World Report declared the diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, to be the best for in terms of safety, nutrition and its ability to control diabetes and support heart health.

The eating plan was created by the National Institutes of Health and includes foods that are rich in nutrients that are associated with lowering blood pressure without medication- potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Nuts boost health benefit of Mediterranean diet

Adding nuts to a traditional Mediterranean diet rich in fruit and vegetables appears to provide extra health benefits, Spanish researchers said on Monday.

A daily serving of mixed nuts helped a group of older people manage their metabolic syndrome, a group of related disorders such as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and abnormal blood sugar, Jordi Salas-Salvado of the University of Rovira i Virgili in Spain and colleagues said.

"The results of the present study show that a non-energy-restricted traditional Mediterranean diet enriched with nuts, which is high in fat, high in unsaturated fat and palatable, is a useful tool in managing the metabolic syndrome," they wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The findings add to existing evidence of the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet that emphasises vegetables, fish and healthy fats such as olive oil over red meat and alcohol. Studies have linked the diet to reduced risk of diabetes, asthma and a range of other conditions.

The Key to the Mediterranean Diet: Wine

It’s been clear for a while now that adhering to The Greek Mediterranean Diet can lower risk of dearth(in the short to medium term, anyway).

But the diet has many components, and it hasn’t been clear which elements of the diet are responsible for this benefit. An analysis published in the BMJ aimed to find out.

Researchers based at Harvard and the University of Athens looked at data collected from more than 20,000 Greek men and women who were followed for an average of more than eight years as part of a study of nutrition and health.

They assessed participants’ adherence to nine components of the Mediterranean diet. They found that overall, people who adhered more closely to the diet were less likely to die during the study. They also parsed the data to see which elements of the diet were most strongly associated with this benefit. Here, in descending order of importance, are the keys:

• A moderate amount of alcohol (usually wine)
• A small amount of meat
• Lots of vegetables
• Lots of fruits and nuts
• A high ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fats
• Lots of legumes

Mediterranean diet linked to fertility

Women who closely adhere to a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, vegetable oils and fish have a higher chance of becoming pregnant after infertility treatment..
The researchers did not assess pregnancy outcomes, so the diet's relationship to the ultimate success of fertility treatment is not clear. The Mediterranean and health-conscious diets had many similarities, but there are a few potential reasons why the former might affect fertility treatment success. One is the high intake of vegetable oils in the Mediterranean diet. The omega-6 fatty acids in these oils, the researchers note, are precursors to hormone-like substances in the body called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins, in turn, are involved in the menstrual cycle, ovulation and pregnancy maintenance.
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Mediterranean diet cuts asthma risk in kids

Children who eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish have a lower risk of asthma and wheezing, scientists have found. However, eating three or more burgers a week can increase the risk.