Mediterranean Diet and Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Researchers combined results from several studies of adults to examine Mediterranean-style eating and heart health. This diet generally includes vegetables, fruit, beans, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil, with less red meat and processed food. People who followed this eating pattern more closely generally had fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from heart disease. The studies differed in their methods, and some could show an association but not prove the diet alone caused the benefit.

What this means for you: Eating more Mediterranean-style foods is a sensible choice for heart health, especially when it replaces processed foods and excess red meat. This study supports the pattern overall, but it does not guarantee protection for any one person.