Scientists Explain Why Mediterranean Diet is Healthy

Sharon Moore May 20, 2014

The combination of olive oil and leafy vegetables gives the Mediterranean diet its healthy edge. Because together, these foods form nitro acids that lower blood pressure, according to a new study.

Nuts and avocados along with vegetables should work too, scientists say.

The Mediterranean diet has long been associated with good health and fit hearts. Typically, it consists of an abundance of vegetables, fresh fruit, wholegrain cereals, olive oil and nuts, as well as poultry and fish, rather than lots of red meat and butter or animal fats.

While each component of the Mediterranean diet has obvious nutritional benefits, researchers have been puzzled about what precisely makes the diet as a whole so healthy.

For the current study, researchers from King’s College London, and colleagues from the University of California in the US examined what makes the Mediterranean diet a really effective and healthy one. They used genetically engineered mice to see what impact nitro fatty acids had on the body.

The researchers believe it is the fusion of the diet’s ingredients that make nitro fatty acids.

Nitro fatty acids helped lower blood pressure by blocking an enzyme called epoxide hydrolase. "Humans have this same enzyme so we think the same happens in people." says lead author Prof Philip Eaton from the King’s College London.

"With the fats in the Med diet, if taken together with nitrates or nitrites, there’s a chemical reaction and these combine to form nitro fatty acids.

"It’s nature’s protective mechanism. If we can tap into this we could make new drugs for treating high blood pressure and preventing heart disease," he said.

Dr Sanjay Thakrar of the British Heart Foundation said: "This interesting study goes some way to explain why a Mediterranean diet appears to be good for your heart health. The results showed a way in which a particular compound could combat high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

However, he said more research is necessary as the current study was performed in mice and the compound could also be having its effect through other pathway.

Source of this article:

Olive oil and salad combined ’explain’ Med diet success