Mediterranean Diet Cuts Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds February 25, 2013 New 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 Barcelona O Previous studies showed that people from Mediterranean countries had lower rates of heart disease. O Scientists randomly assigned 7,447 people ages in Spain who were at high risk for heart disease. O Mediterranean diet (2/3) O Low-fat diet (1/3) O To assess compliance O Measured urine for olive oil consumption (hydroxytyrosol). O Measured blood for nut consumption (alpha- linolenic acid)

Results O Participants were counseled about diet and regularly met with dieticians. O Low-fat diet was hard to maintain. O Most participants didnt 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.

Results O 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 mortality O Incidence of Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease O More research needs to be done to establish benefits for low-risk. O Childhood

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Costs O Modern diet: $10 per day O Mediterranean diet: $16 per day O Cost of a heart attack: O Severe: $1,000,000 O 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.

References O /how-much-would-a-heart-attack- cost-you/ O 2/27/cost-eat-mediterranean/ O aging/features/heart-disease-medical-costs O anean-diet/CL00011 O /mediterranean-diet-can-cut-heart-disease- study-finds.html?pagewanted=1&ref=health