By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor, The Independent
Friday, 30 May 2008
The Mediterranean diet, with abundant quantities of virgin olive oil, provides strong protection against diabetes, a study has shown.
The diet, which includes high quantities of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain pulses and cereals is already known to protect against cardiovascular disease and, according to some research, against Alzheimer’s.
Now scientists in Spain have found that it also offers a defence against the epidemic of diabetes associated with growing rates of obesity and the consumption of high-fat fast foods.
Those who followed the diet most rigorously had more risk factors for diabetes, such as being older, having a family history of the illness and a history of smoking. Yet they were less likely to develop the disease.
This suggests the protective effect of the diet might be “substantial“, the authors report in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal. Professor Martinez-Gonzalez said: “Substantial protection against diabetes can be obtained with the traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruit, nuts, cereals, legumes and fish, but relatively low in meat and dairy products.”
I have been on the Mediterranean Diet and I love it! I also only use olive oil imported from Italy because it tastes better.