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How? This diet, which is already known to be heart-healthy, appears to reduce damage to small blood vessels in the brain, HealthDay News reports of research from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. What is a Mediterranean diet? Just as the name implies, it is characterized by the traditional cooking style of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Every meal is based on plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, herbs and spices. Olive oil is used in place of all other fats. Fish, poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt can be consumed in moderate amounts, while red meat and sweets are eaten only occasionally. Red wine, in moderation, is optional. Dishes include whole grain pasta with vegetables, couscous, Greek salad, hummus and pita bread and sautéed spinach with lemon.
The study: Led by Hanna Gardener, researchers tracked the brain health of almost 1,000 volunteers. All completed a questionnaire about the foods and beverages they consume and were then scored on a 10-point scale (10 being the highest) for how closely they followed a Mediterranean-type diet. The participants were given brain MRI scans to measure "white matter hyperintensity" volume, which is a marker of small vessel damage in the brain. The results: Those who had the higher scores for following a Mediterranean diet also had a lower burden of white matter hyperintensities in their brains--even after other risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels were taken into account. It is believed that it is the overall diet that benefits the brain, rather than just one or more specific foods. The takeaway: Based on this research, a Mediterranean diet appears to offer protection to the brain from small blood vessel damage. Translation: A healthy diet helps your brain. And a healthy brain could mean a longer and higher-quality life. The study findings were published in the journal Archives of Neurology. --From the Editors at Netscape |
If you eat a Mediterranean diet--that is, a diet high in fruits and veggies and almost devoid of red meat--your brain will be healthier, which could help you to live longer.
