Mediterranean Diet vs Low-Fat Diet: What's the Difference?
The Mediterranean diet , which features a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, and olive oil, has long been studied for its beneficial effects on heart health. Endothelial dysfunction has been identified as an important underlying contributor to many kinds of heart problems. The endothelium is a thin layer of protective cells that line the inner walls of the arteries and heart. It helps ensure efficient blood flow around the entire body. An impaired or dysfunctional endothelium is a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease.2 A recent study published in PLOS Medicine measured the effect of the Mediterranean diet on endothelial function, compared to a low-fat diet, assessed byflow-mediated dilation (FMD).3 The FMD is an ultrasound test, which measures blood vessel health and helps predict cardiovascular disease risk. Higher FMD results are a favorable outcome. What the Study Found This study is based on the data set from the Spanish COR...