The Mediterranean Diet And Cardiovascular Disease

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The Mediterranean diet is a more plant-based diet, meaning this diet focuses on a “high-intake of olive oil, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and cereals; moderate intake of poultry and fish; and low intake of dairy products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets… wine is also included in this diet but in moderation” (Gwynne, 2013). When following this diet, fresh fruit is recommended, focusing on root and green varieties for vegetables, cereals that are whole-grain (this can also include whole-grain bread, rice, and pasta), nuts, almonds or hazelnuts, and mostly fatty fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids (Eckel, 2013). There is either minimal or no red meats, sweets, butter, or eggs in this diet, the preferred protein being fish. According to Gwynne (2013), data on the effects of olive oil and reducing cardiovascular states that the biological properties of olive oil, specifically its “antioxidant, vasodilating, and antiplatelet effects” with the additional help from “low-density lipoprotein cholesterol”, have aided the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease, suggesting that CVD risk is reduced when woman adhere to this specific heart healthy diet.