Participants were randomly assigned to three groups; all of them received guidance on the Mediterranean diet and were not advised to restrict calories.
Participants were randomly assigned to three groups; all of them received guidance on the Mediterranean diet and were not advised to restrict calories. One group was given free extra-virgin olive oil with instructions to consume a minimum amount; another group was given free mixed nuts and guidance on a minimum to consume; and the third group was given nonfood gifts. Those who ate the calorie-unrestricted Mediterranean diet with supplemented olive oil or nuts had about a 30 percent lower risk of heart events at the end of the follow-up period than the control group. Researchers didn’t advise participants on exercise.
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