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Dear Colleagues and Friends,
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The Mediterranean diet (MD) is characterized by olive oil as the predominant oil, in addition to being a dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains, moderate intake of fish and fermented dairy products, and a limited consumption in red meat and ultra-processed products. Previous studies suggest that olive oil along with other components in this dietary pattern are responsible for the beneficial effects on each parameter of the metabolic syndrome. What is more, results from PREDIMED study provide substantial evidence that the health benefits of this dietary pattern are a result of its components. Adherence to the MD in this clinical trial resulted in a reduction of type 2 diabetes incidence rate by 51-52% when supplemented with either nuts or olive oil.
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Although the MD has been associated with a reduction in type 2 diabetes incidence, the biological mechanisms for these benefits have not been clearly defined. The findings of the Women's Health Study (WHS, a randomized trial of low-dose aspirin and vitamin E supplementation for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in initially healthy women) suggest that the MD was associated with a diabetes risk reduction of 30% over a 20 year follow-up. It was concluded that the main mechanisms behind this risk reduction were a lower insulin resistance, lower BMI, and higher HDL levels among others.
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Beyond the Mediterranean diet, the Mediterranean lifestyle encompasses several distinctive habits, as described by the Spanish Foundation for the Mediterranean diet and represented in a Pyramid of the Mediterranean Diet. In a Mediterranean cohort, adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle was significantly associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. These results suggest that the traditional Mediterranean way of life reduces the risk of mortality and may serve as a guide to foster health and longevity throughout the world. Public health strategies, in addition to encompassing a healthy diet, should aim to promote a healthy Mediterranean lifestyle for the promotion of general health.
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