Mediterranean Diet Lowers Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Eating a Mediterranean diet may help prevent metabolic syndrome, suggests a new study.
The Mediterranean diet - native to countries in Southern Europe - is rich in fruits, vegetables, wine, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, and olive oil, but low in saturated fats, meat, and dairy. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to reduced health risks, especially cardiovascular disease; according to the American Heart Association.
Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, scientists reviewed 35 clinical trials and found sticking to a Mediterranean diet reduced the likelihood of developing low HDL, or "good" cholesterol, high blood sugar, too much belly fat, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure.
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical conditions that increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, including type-2 diabetes, obesity or overweight, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
In the study, researchers found people who followed a Mediterranean diet had slimmer waistlines (0.16 inches smaller), and a 2.35 point lower systolic blood pressure reading on average. The scientists admit the results are minimal, but still show that the Mediterranean diet helps reduce heart risks.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men; every year 785,000 Americans suffer their first heart attack.
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