In a study of nearly 26,000 women, those with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet were up to 28 percent less likely to develop heart disease.
It’s also tough to look past these numbers when it comes to your ticker. In a study of nearly 26,000 women, those with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet were up to 28 percent less likely to develop heart disease.
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The diet may be particularly protective because it can reduce inflammation. Plus, the antioxidant compound called hydroxytyrosol, found in foods that are hallmarks of the diet (fruits, nuts, extra-virgin olive oil), has been shown to repair heart-harming free radical damage, the authors say.