The failure of omega-3 preparations as a means to prevent cardiovascular disease has made scientists wary of all substances that are recommended as cardioprotectors. However, the arguments presented below sound quite convincing.
These are the foods that form the basis of the Mediterranean diet.
The experimenters not only proved this fact, but also traced the causal relationship. For this, an analysis of 40 biomarkers that contribute to the development of heart and vascular diseases was carried out. First of all, scientists were interested in such severe pathologies as stroke and heart attack, which lead to disability and death.
All women who participated in the study filled out questionnaires and donated blood regularly for all 12 years. During this time, cardiovascular events occurred in 428 patients, which is 4,2% of all subjects. All of them were in the group of low consumption of products of the Mediterranean diet. In women from the “middle” group, vascular events occurred in 3,8% of cases (in 356 participants). Patients of the “upper” group suffered less than the others. The disease affected only 246 participants.
Thus, it was possible to establish that the risk decreased by 23-28%. If these figures are not impressive, then it should be clarified that people taking statins and other cardioprotectors have similar figures. The Mediterranean diet works differently than drugs. The beneficial effect is achieved by reducing inflammation. It is they who provide almost 30% of the cardioprotective effect on the body.
Compliance with the diet allows you to normalize blood glucose levels, reduce cell resistance to insulin, and lose weight. Some subjects stabilized blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels in the blood. It is possible that these positive effects were also provided by the Mediterranean diet.