Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
How The Mediterranean Diet Works
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Bulletins

How The Mediterranean Diet Works

How The Mediterranean Diet Works | Diet | Andrew Weil M.D.
1 min

Adhering to the Mediterranean diet cut the risk of heart disease by 25 percent among more than 25,000 women health professionals   during a 12-year study. The more closely they followed the diet, the lower their risk. The women completed questionnaires about what they were eating and provided blood samples, allowing researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan of Public Health to check 40 biomarkers for heart disease. Results showed that during the 12 years, 428 women (4.2 percent) who were least adherent to the diet experienced a cardiovascular event compared to 356 (3.8) percent in the middle group and 246 (3.8) percent among the most adherent. Following the diet led to a relative risk reduction of 23 percent for the lower group and 28 percent for the middle and upper group. The researchers said this benefit was similar to the effects of taking statin drugs or other medications designed to lower risks of heart disease. The biomarker changes seen as largely responsible for the risk reduction were related to inflammation, which accounted for 29 percent, glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, 27.9 percent and body mass index, 27.3 percent.

My take? These welcome findings support what we’ve long known about the heart health benefits of the Mediterranean diet and gives us important new information about why it works so well. As you may know, this diet emphasizes high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, unrefined cereals, olive oil, fermented dairy products (yogurt and natural cheeses), and fresh fish. While it doesn’t eliminate red meat, it limits consumption to about one meal a month. Poultry, eggs and sweets are permitted but are eaten only about once a week. Moderate amounts of wine, especially red wine, are part of the diet.

Source:
Shafqat Ahmad et al, “Assessment of Risk Factors and Biomarkers Associated with Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Women Consuming a Mediterranean Diet.” JAMA Network Open, December 7, 2018, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5708

Also in this week’s bulletin:

  • Tooth Loss Danger For Women
  • Is Standing Always Better Than Sitting?
  • Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Soup

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

es Mediterranean Lifestyle Trump The Food? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Healthy Living

Does Mediterranean Lifestyle Trump The Food?

how the mediterranean diet helps women
Bulletins

How The Mediterranean Diet Helps Women

Mediterranean Diet | Diets & Weight Loss | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Diets & Weight Loss

The Mediterranean Diet

Senior woman feeling unwell, touching her chest, heart disease
Heart

Cardiovascular Disease

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Gardening Yields & Health Benefits | Weekly Bulletins | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Gardening Yields A Harvest Of Health Benefits

Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Is Green Tea A Better Choice Than Coffee? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Bulletins

Is Green Tea A Better Choice Than Coffee?

Regular Yoga Linked To Lower Heart Disease Risk
Bulletins

Regular Yoga Linked To Lower Heart Disease Risk

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Gardening Yields & Health Benefits | Weekly Bulletins | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Gardening Yields A Harvest Of Health Benefits

Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Daily Tips
Optimism & Gratitude: The Power Of Positive Thinking | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Optimism & Gratitude: The Power Of Positive Thinking

Start The Day With Grapefruit
Health Tips

3 Reasons To Eat Grapefruit

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com