Mediterranean diet reduces risk of hypertension, study says

The study analyzed health data from a group followed for 20 years to reach a conclusion

Researchers found that people who follow a Mediterranean-style diet have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than those who don’t.

The study was published in European Journal of Clinical Nutritionand included data from people who had tracked their health for 20 years.

Hypertension, popularly called arterial hypertension, is a chronic disease characterized by an increase in blood pressure exerted on the arteries. In order to diagnose the condition, the maximum and minimum pressure must be equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg (or (“14 x 9”).

In Brazil, about one in four adults suffers from hypertension, and the disease is common in about 65% of older adults. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and even kidney disease.

To reduce or control high blood pressure, it is important to make lifestyle changes, such as adjusting your diet and doing more exercise. Doctors often prescribe medications such as ACE inhibitors and beta blockers to keep blood pressure under control.

Regarding dietary changes, the recommendation is to focus on the consumption of plant-based foods. The Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to be beneficial in preventing a number of diseases, promotes the consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, healthy oils and moderate amounts of fish and seafood.

Long-term study

Researchers at the School of Health Sciences and Education at Harokopio University in Athens, Greece, decided to conduct a 20-year study to see what benefits adhering to the Mediterranean diet might have in the long term.

The study began in 2002 and continued until 2022. The researchers invited 4,056 people living in Greece to participate, and of that group, 3,042 signed up.

The average age of participants at the start of the study was 41, of which 44% were men. One of the requirements for participation was that participants could not be hypertensive at the start of the study.

The researchers collected a variety of information about the participants at the start of the study. They made sure the participants had no cardiovascular disease, checked their glucose and cholesterol levels, monitored their body weight and blood pressure, and conducted an interview to assess their eating and lifestyle habits.

Scoring system

To see how participants were following aspects of the Mediterranean diet at the start of the study, they assigned a score based on their consumption of the following food groups:

– fruit

– vegetables

– Whole grains

– potatoes

– vegetables

– fish

– oil

Participants received points based on these food groups. Higher scores indicated better adherence to the diet. Participants may lose points by consuming “non-Mediterranean” foods or food groups, including full-fat dairy products, poultry and red meat.

Over the next 20 years, the researchers followed the participants to evaluate their scores, check their vital signs and look for the development of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The final sample contained 1,415 participants.

The researchers found that participants who most closely followed the Mediterranean diet had the lowest risk of developing hypertension, at 8.7%.

On the other hand, participants in the group that scored the lowest – and therefore had the worst results in following the diet – had hypertension rates of 35.5% at the end of the study. The intermediate group had a hypertension rate of 22.5%.

The study results underline the importance of dietary habits in reducing the risk of developing hypertension. It also shows that the Mediterranean diet may be crucial in reducing the risk of hypertension, although it is necessary to confirm the study results in other populations.

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Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.