Mediterranean Diet’s Benefits Confirmed

Eating vegetables, nuts and a “Mediterranean” diet can help to protect your heart, researchers confirm after pooling a huge volume of evidence. The new study put together the results of 189 previous studies. Of these, 146 looked at people’s past habits. The other 43 assigned them to follow particular diets. Researchers found “strong evidence” that vegetables, nuts and monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil) protect against heart disease. The same was true for the Mediterranean diet, which includes these elements, plus fruits and grains. The study found that foods that quickly raise blood sugar can harm the heart. Examples include sweets and refined grains. Trans fats also are harmful. The journal Archives of Internal Medicine published the study. The Associated Press wrote about it April 14.