The Mediterranean diet has been on the agenda of the world for a long time and has been praised for healthy eating. As it is known, the Mediterranean diet is a type of nutrition that emphasizes a moderate and balanced diet, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, fish and legumes in the diet.
EATING TOGETHER, RESTING, SLEEPING, SOCIAL ties…
However, according to the new research mentioned, the Mediterranean lifestyle is not just about diet. According to the authors of the study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, taking time to eat and enjoy food with loved ones includes getting enough rest and sleep, maintaining strong social connections, and exercising regularly.
Researchers found that adults in the UK who adopted the Mediterranean lifestyle had a 29% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 28% lower risk of dying from cancer than those who did not.
SOCIALIZATION
According to the study, people who especially adhered to their lifestyle ‘rest, exercise and socializing with friends’ had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
The team analyzed the results of questionnaires completed by 110,799 people aged 40 to 75. Participants were asked whether they followed a Mediterranean-style diet; They are rated according to their diet and social habits, such as limiting salt or drinking healthy drinks.
Nine years later, 4,247 participants had died, including 2,401 from cancer and 731 from cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that those who most closely follow the Mediterranean lifestyle, and especially those in the third category, have the lowest risk of death.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Lead researcher Dr., a nutritional epidemiologist at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. Mercedes Sotos-Prieto tells Insider that the Mediterranean lifestyle is “a traditional and cultural way of wellness.”
How you eat can be just as important as what you eat.
While the Mediterranean diet mostly consists of certain foods and cooking habits—for example, seasoning meals with spices rather than excessive salt—the study suggests how the food is consumed is just as important as what it is.
Sotos-Prieto said that meals are enjoyed with family and friends, and the festive and social aspect is an important feature of his lifestyle.
According to the research, many Mediterranean countries prefer a short nap or “siesta” in the afternoon; Rest also seems to be key, as it prioritizes getting six to eight hours of sleep a night.
“All of these substances have been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease, but this study is a better way to assess the synergy between them all,” says Sotos-Prieto.
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