New Study Highlights Benefits of Mediterranean Diet in Reducing Stroke Risk

It has been known for quite some time that a Mediterranean diet is associated with good health. A new study is lending more credence to this belief, connecting the diet with a lower risk of stroke in women. Here is what you need to know about the latest findings and how you can incorporate this diet into your lifestyle.

Researchers Tout Benefits of Mediterranean Diet in Reducing Stroke Risk

New research has shown that women may be able to reduce their risk of stroke by adopting a Mediterranean diet. The threat of stroke naturally increases for women as they age. This risk jumps significantly after menopause. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that stroke is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 55 and 75. Approximately one in five women in the U.S. will have a stroke in this age group.

A study published this week in Neurology Open Access, a medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, reports that committing to eating a Mediterranean diet may significantly decrease the risk of stroke. A Mediterranean diet focuses on making vegetables, fruits, olive oil, fish, and nuts the cornerstone of your lifestyle. By highlighting a plant-based diet and healthy fats, the diet naturally includes copious amounts of healthy antioxidants.

The diet also limits the consumption of meat and dairy. Instead, the main source of fat comes from olive oil. The diet is also praised for emphasizing the consumption of fish that is rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Moderate consumption of alcohol is allowed on the Mediterranean diet, specifically in the form of wine. The diet encourages followers to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and butter.

Researchers with the long-term study followed over 105,000 women participating in the California Teachers Study. The study looked at participants who identified as public school teachers, administrators, or members of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System when the study began in 1995. The subjects ranged in age between 38 and 67.

The women first completed a detailed questionnaire regarding their eating habits and portion sizes over the last year. The scientists then used the responses to assign overall diet and nutritional intakes, measuring how closely the data of each subject followed the Mediterranean diet using a 9-point evaluation system.

More points were awarded for participants eating higher amounts of olive oil, fish, whole grain cereals, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. The participants were also awarded points for consuming lesser amounts of meat and dairy, as well as for reporting moderate alcohol use. A higher score demonstrated that the subject was adhering to the guidelines of the Mediterranean diet.

Researchers followed up over the course of 20.5 years. What they found is that the women who followed the Mediterranean diet demonstrated a lower risk of all types of stroke. Diving into the data further, the researchers found that these participants were 18% less likely to have a stroke overall. The risk of an ischemic stroke was 16% lower, while the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke was 25% lower.

Study Results Amplify Existing Research

The news that a Mediterranean diet is good for overall health is not surprising. Previous studies have noted that this diet may be instrumental in lowering the risk of breast cancer, diabetes, gum disease, dementia, and depression.

Health care professionals have long referenced the well-known PREDIMED study, a body of research that demonstrated a reduction in both cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events when following a Mediterranean diet. Along the same vein as this latest study, the PREDIMED study showed the most meaningful benefits in stroke prevention. As such, medical experts are not surprised that the new research is amplifying these past findings.

What was surprising to some experts was the decreased risk of hemorrhagic stroke specifically. While doctors have long known about the lifestyle factors connected to the threat of ischemic stroke, the dietary benefits attributed to reducing hemorrhagic stroke risks are new. For context, ischemic stroke is triggered by blocked blood flow to the brain, while a hemorrhagic stroke results from bleeding in the brain.

The latest body of research offers hope for women who are worried about the inherent uptick in stroke risk past the age of menopause. The news that adhering to a specific diet can help to minimize this risk offers a concrete way to take control of your health.

While there is no magic bullet when it comes to eliminating the risk of stroke, this latest research offers yet another reason to consider making a Mediterranean diet part of your lifestyle. Even if you are not able to follow the tenets of a Mediterranean diet entirely, simply focusing on low-fat and whole foods is a great way to mitigate the risk of a number of diseases, including stroke.

Looking for stories that inform and engage? From breaking headlines to fresh perspectives, WaveNewsToday has more to explore. Ride the wave of what’s next.