Many studies have proven that the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are countless. Lately a new study has confirmed that this type of eating, with olive oil as the major ingredient, should be adopted by everyone.
Dr. Anthony Pothoulakis who is a cardiologist in Hania Crete, said that the metabolic syndrome is a combination of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and abdominal obesity.
Obesity is an epidemic in our times and connected to the metabolic syndrome. A fat belly, poisons our metabolism, with results in heart attacks, strokes and type 2 diabetes.
Olive oil contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients. The Mediterranean diet and olive oil should be accompanied by exercise and a smoke free lifestyle.
Dr. Pothoulakis also said, that following the Mediterranean diet, leads in the reduction of metabolic syndrome.
This study which was conducted among 535,000 individuals, concludes that the Mediterranean diet, very rich in consumption of mono-unsaturated fats, mainly extra virgin olive oil, followed by fruits vegetables, legumes, fish, poultry and low fat dairy products, minimizes the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Olive oil should be the main source of fat in everybody’s diet and should replace saturated fats, because of its many health benefits, such as the reduction of heart attacks, improvements of blood sugar levels, etc.
Greek researchers reveal that when olive oil is consumed together with vegetables, show that olive oil has the main beneficial effects on arterial blood pressure.
Another study at the Second University of Naples, Italy, indicates that the Mediterranean diet has beneficial effects on people with the metabolic syndrome. It is lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and body weight.