In the case of women, a Mediterranean diet causes a 22 percent reduction in the risk of stroke

How does the Mediterranean diet affect the risk of stroke??

Researchers have now found that women who consume a lot of fish, olive oil and vegetables, have a 22 percent reduced risk of suffering a stroke. By comparison, the reduced chance of stroke from a Mediterranean diet in men was only six percent.

Scientists from the University of East Anglia, the University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen have found in their joint recent study that women are better protected from stroke by a Mediterranean diet than men. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal of the American Heart Association "Stroke".

Benefits of a Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet mainly contains lots of fish, fruits, nuts and vegetables, while reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products. A number of studies have already shown that this form of nutrition can strengthen heart health, prevent cancer and improve sleep.

23,000 subjects participated in the study

The current study, in which participants were divided into four groups depending on how well they served a Mediterranean diet, medically monitored a total of 23,000 people over a 17-year period to analyze their risk of stroke. All participants in the study were between 40 and 77 years old. The results showed that the general risk of stroke was reduced by about 17 percent in the Mediterranean diet, but there was a big difference between the sexes.

Further research is needed

Patients at high risk for heart disease who were prone to stroke had a lower risk of stroke from a Mediterranean diet. It is unclear why women benefit most, says study author Professor Ailsa Welch from the University of East Anglia. But it could be that components of the diet affect men differently than women, the expert adds. Further research is needed to clarify the connection.

Study used nutrition diaries

Researchers used seven-day food diaries, which they say has never been used before in such a large study. Such diaries are more precise than normal questionnaires, emphasize the doctors. The results of the study provide physicians and the public with information about the potential benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet in the prevention of stroke.

Why does the Mediterranean diet promote better sleep?

Greek scientists had previously stated that people over the age of 65 slept better after eating olives, fish and seasonal fruits. The Mediterranean diet promotes a healthier sleep. This could be because foods from such diets are good sources of melatonin. This hormone helps to shut off the brain and allows for improved sleep. (As)