The mediterranean diet is reputed to be one of the healthiest diets. It involves focusing on fresh, seasonal products, excluding processed and industrial products. Poor in red meat, sugar and saturated fatit gives pride of place to Omega 3 with olive oil as star ingredient.
The Mediterranean diet, also called cretan dietis a diet originating in the Mediterranean basin known to promote food balance over the week.
If doctors today recommend the Mediterranean diet, it is for its richness in vitamins, omega-3, antioxidants, but also fiber. This mode of feeding is beneficial for intestinal transitprevents cardiovascular diseases and would have a positive effect on the maintenance of mental health.
Numerous studies have already proven that the Mediterranean diet can prevent cognitive decline and certain neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. New research published in BMC Medicine on March 14, 2023 demonstrated that this diet reduced the risk of dementia by 23%. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common forms of dementia.
Mediterranean diet and dementia: a study of 60,000 people
Researchers from the University of Newcastle (UK) have found that people who follow a Mediterranean-type diet have up to 23% lower risk of dementia than those who do not. Scientists analyzed data from 60,298 people across the UK. They assessed their eating habits.
Participants were followed for nearly a decade, during which 882 cases of dementia were diagnosed.
“Dementia impacts the lives of millions of people around the world, and there are currently limited options for treating this disease. Finding ways to reduce our risk of developing dementia is therefore a top priority for researchers and practitioners. clinicians. Our study suggests that eating a more Mediterranean diet could be a strategy to help individuals reduce their risk,” said Dr Oliver Shannon, senior lecturer in human nutrition and aging at Newcastle University, leader of the study.
This isn’t the first time a study has demonstrated the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for brain health. It is also recommended to bet on the Mind diet to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. And the MIND diet (for Mediterranean-Dash Intervention of Neurodegenerative Delay), rich in vitamins B6, B9, and B12, fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains and antioxidants is a derivative of the Mediterranean diet.
Discover in pictures, the foods to put on the menu to preserve your brain health.