The Mediterranean Diet Has Medical Benefits

There has been a great deal of news lately surrounding the Mediterranean diet.  We know this diet is definitely a big help when it comes to fighting heart disease, and there are numerous reports that it can increase life expectancy.  Recently, there have been several reports looking at whether it helps prevent Alzheimer's disease.  The debate goes back and forth, and certainly there has been some groundbreaking work by Columbia University looking into the matter, but I think it's time to make a commonsense point.   There is great reason to continue studies here, but we also know the Mediterranean diet is just good for you.  

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A Mediterranean Diet May Lower Brain Damage Risk

A Mediterranean diet may lower brain damage risk.  That's right, a Mediterranean-style diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to thinking problems with age.  That's what research suggests.  Doctors assessed the diets of 712 people in New York.  They divided them into three groups based on how closely they followed a Mediterranean-style diet.  That would include a high intake of vegetables, whole grains, and fish, a low intake of saturated fat and meat, and moderate alcohol use.  Results showed that those who closely followed the diet were 36% less likely to have small areas of brain damage on an MRI scan.  Not eating a Mediterranean diet had the same effect on the brain as having high blood pressure.  This is from an American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting which was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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