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At 58,

She recently spilled the secrets to The Sydney Morning Herald. First and foremost, junk food is off the table, literally. Ive always watched what I eat, since forever. Ive never wanted to eat processed food. Right back to my teens, Ive always looked at the labels on food, she said. In a January Instagram, she delved deeper into her eating habits, defining junk food as anything that contains any ingredient that I dont have in my own kitchen.

She doesnt jump on any wellness bandwagons, either. My tastes are pretty simpleI dont drink weird green juices or anything like that, she said, adding that her diet is very normal.

In the January Instagram, she elaborated: My mantra is: Dont eat too much, too fast, too often or too late. Or, put another way, eat smaller meals, chew properly, ban snacking, and eat dinner earlier. This works for me.

She continued, adding that she prioritizes fruits and vegetables, ensuring that they take up half her plate with every meal, and she only take[s] supplements if a blood test tells me Im lacking something.

As for Hurleys fitness routine, its just as simple as her diet. I dont go to the gym, but Im very active ... I dont really sit still very much, she said. Gardening, for example, is one of her favorite pastimes, she added.

As low-maintenance as those choices seem to be, Hurley is unafraid to admit that she does plenty of things, in general, to keep up her energy and appearance. I work for a cosmetic company, I work for fashion companies, I have my own fashion company, Im in high definition on massive cinema screens, she said. So its my business to make more effort ... of course I do, its my bread and butter.

Kayla Blanton is a freelance writer-editor who covers health, nutrition, and lifestyle topics for various publications including Prevention, Everyday Health, SELF, People, and more. Shes always open to conversations about fueling up with flavorful dishes, busting beauty standards, and finding new, gentle ways to care for our bodies. She earned a bachelors degree in journalism from Ohio University with specializations in women, gender, and sexuality studies and public health, and is a born-and-raised midwesterner living in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband and two spoiled kitties.

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At 58, Elizabeth Hurley Shares Her 'Simple' Habits for Looking and Feeling Her Best - Prevention Magazine

In 2003, The Human Genome Project, a groundbreaking international scientific endeavor that decoded the 3 billion DNA base pairs that make up the human genome, was officially completed. The project had started 13 years prior and promised to provide valuable insights into human biology, disease and evolution, though enterprising corporations saw another realm in which the findings would be potentially useful (and lucrative): dieting.

At the time, American culture was definitely saturated in diet talk. Former Surgeon General David Satcher had declared obesity an epidemic in the United States in 2001, which led to an onslaught of fitness and nutrition-focused news segments, documentaries and television programs, ranging from The Biggest Loser and You Are What You Eat to Super Size Me and MTVs Fat Camp. Not all of these pieces of media have aged well in the ensuing two decades, but their existence speaks to the relentless societal interest at the time in how we should be feeding our bodies.

When companies like Nutrigenomix, DNAfit and Habit began offering pricy nutrition plans based on genetic testing and biomarkers, it was just one example of how the advent of new scientific technology and knowledge tends to be floated as a personal health solution. For instance, digital watches quickly started to double as heart monitors, while our smartphones now count our steps, sleep and menstrual cycles.

Now, there are questions as to whether language-based artificial intelligence models, like the popular ChatGPT, could serve as a tool for creating specialized nutrition plans that are potentially both cheaper and quicker than visiting a nutritionist.

Last year, researchers published a paper in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism that compared the answers between ChatGPT and human dieticians to common nutrition questions.

Dieticians were asked to provide their most commonly asked nutrition questions and their own answers to them. We then asked the same questions to ChatGPT and sent both sets of answers to other dieticians or nutritionists and experts in the domain of each question to be graded based on scientific correctness, actionability and comprehensibility, the study authors wrote. The grades were also averaged to give an overall score, and group means of the answers to each question were compared using permutation tests.

Surprisingly, ChatGPT's responses often outperformed those of the dieticians across various criteria.

The overall grades for ChatGPT were higher than those from the dieticians for the overall scores in five of the eight questions we received, they continued. ChatGPT also had higher grades on five occasions for scientific correctness, four for actionability, and five for comprehensibility. In contrast, none of the answers from the dieticians had a higher average score than ChatGPT for any of the questions, both overall and for each of the grading components.

These findings were underscored by a more recent paper in Frontiers of Nutrition. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of personalized AI-generated weight-loss diet plans for clinical use through a survey-based evaluation by experts in obesity medicine and clinical nutrition. Similarly, the researchers used ChatGPT and graded the plans on effectiveness, balance, comprehensiveness, flexibility and applicability.

Results from 67 participants showed no significant differences among the plans, with AI-generated plans often indistinguishable from human-created ones. While some experts identified the AI plan, scores for AI-generated personalized plans were generally positive.

Distinguishing AI-generated outputs from human writing, particularly those created by ChatGPT, presents a significant challenge, the study authors wrote. Our study reinforced this observation as only 5 out of 67 experts were able to accurately identify and select the AI-generated diet plan. These experts highlighted characteristics such as the broad comprehensiveness of the diet plan and the inclusion of atypical recommendations.

They continued: Moreover, an intriguing finding emerged in which 24 experts who initially reported that they could not identify the AI-generated plan correctly selected the AI plan. Their reasoning revolved around nonspecific characteristics, such as the absence of brand names and meal preparations perceived as unrealistic. Therefore, although the task of identifying AI-generated diet plans is complex, some experts were able to pinpoint them, typically because of factors not directly related to the quality of the diet plan.

"Distinguishing AI-generated outputs from human writing, particularly those created by ChatGPT, presents a significant challenge."

For all the promise of AI-generated diet plans, there are some definite drawbacks to the technology currently that would need to be addressed in order to really level-up the safety and efficacy of the plans outside of concerns about lack of specificity and unrealistic preparation suggestions

For instance, when assessing the plans ChatGPT created, they noticed tomatoes were frequently recommended; while tomatoes are a key part of a Spanish diet which the prompt specified the test subject desired they may conflict with dietary restrictions for conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Similarly, the plans ChatGPT created often emphasized protein consumption for weight loss, despite the fact excessive amounts of protein can negatively impact CKD patients.

This underscores the challenge AI faces in balancing diverse considerations for patients with multiple, potentially conflicting chronic health issues. ChatGPT also seemed to struggle with providing specific portion sizes, macro and micronutrient breakdowns and serving suggestions (though as dietician Eliza Savage astutely pointed out, Its not very good at math or science. Its a language model, after all).

Researchers remain optimistic, however, while suggesting theres a need for an extra layer of expertise before suggesting or implementing these plans.

Current AI models, like ChatGPT, lack the capability to fact-check their outputs, they wrote. Therefore, it remains the responsibility of human experts to validate these outputs.

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The promise and peril of ChatGPT diet plans - Salon

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Middle Easterns relied on Mediterranean Diet thousands of years ago - Watauga Democrat

Researchers from Harvard University have found the diet that is healthiest for the planet is also potentially healthiest for humans.

The study, which was recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at the Planetary Diet and whether it could reduce the risk of a premature death.

The Planetary Diet is simply a plant-based diet, where half a plate of food is made up of fruit and vegetables.

For the study, health data from more than 200,000 women and men enrolled in the Nurses Health Study I and II and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study was examined.

The participants didnt have any major chronic diseases at the start of the study and every four years, for up to 34 years, each person completed a dietary questionnaire.

The participants diets were scored and those who followed the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) fared much better than others.

The study found that the risk of premature death was 30 per cent lower in the top 10 per cent of participants most closely adhering to PHD compared to those in the lowest 10 per cent, Harvard said in a press release.

Every major cause of death, including cancer,heart diseaseand lung disease, was lower with greater adherence to this dietary pattern.

We already know that the agriculture industry is harming the environment.

Climate change has our planet on track for ecological disaster, and our food system plays a major role, said the studys author Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition.

Shifting how we eat can help slow the process of climate change. And whats healthiest for the planet is also healthiest for humans.

Researchers also found those with the highest adherence to the diet had a substantially lower environmental impact when compared to those with the lowest adherence rate.

Willett said the study was noteworthy given the US Department of Agriculture has refused to look at the environmental impacts of dietary choices.

The findings show just how linked human and planetary health are, he said.

Eating healthfully boosts environmental sustainability, which in turn is essential for the health and wellbeing of every person on earth.

The Planetary Health Diet was designed to help both people and the planet. Photo: Getty

The Planetary Health Diet is meant to be flexible, but it is first and foremost a plant-focused diet, however meat and dairy products are allowed to be consumed in moderate amounts.

It emphasises a plant-forward diet where whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes comprise a greater proportion of foods consumed, the non-profit EAT explains.

Meat and dairy constitute important parts of the diet but in significantly smaller proportions than whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.

An example of the Planetary Health Diet. Photo: Lancet

The diet was conceived by the EAT-Lancet Commission in 2019, with help from 37 scientists from around the world.

The goal was to find a diet that would be beneficial for humans and having a minimal environmental impact.

An example of the diet on a plate, as described by the Lancet, would look something like; Half a plate of vegetables, then the other half made up of a combination of wholegrain, starchy vegetables, dairy, animal protein, plant protein, plant oils and added sugar.

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The diet that can save you from an early death and help the planet - The New Daily

Hello, health and wellness enthusiasts. My name is Kaitlin and Im here to help you get your week started right. To kick things off, read your horoscope and check your local forecast (we hope it's cooling down after a heat wave hit most of the country). Then keep reading for some easy tips and hacks that may improve your life.

Wed all be grateful for a little more snooze time, but actually getting it can make you feel more gratitude overall. According to a new study from Baylor University, participants who got more shut-eye also had increased feelings of gratitude, resilience and well-being. Eager to feel higher levels of bliss? Focus on improving your sleep hygiene and full permission from me to splurge on that pricey sleep mask.

There are few things in this world that I love more than a brownie, but unfortunately, baked goods might not be the best food for your mental health. (Even if, yes, it feels very comforting in the moment.) A study published in Nutritional Neuroscience found that eating a diet high in sugar and saturated fats can lead to changes in the brain associated with rumination a symptom of depression and anxiety that includes focusing on negative thoughts and feelings. The study also found that participants who ate a mostly Mediterranean diet (lots of veggies, fish and healthy fats like olive oil) didnt have these brain changes so while cake is great, if you can fall equally in love with salmon and asparagus, your mental health may thank you.

Fruit is good for you but apparently, theres one fruit thats the berry best. Dietitian Samantha Cassetty looked at the research for the "Today" show and declared that antioxidant-rich blueberries are the healthiest fruit. Eating them can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as heart disease and fortunately, theyre also pretty delicious. Sprinkle some in your oatmeal or blend them into a smoothie.

Look, I get it: The last thing you want to do while youre on your period is push yourself. New research, however, suggests that doing so may not be the worst idea in the world. (Sorry!) A new study published in Neuropsychologia found that people who were menstruating did better on tests that measure reaction time, attention, mental agility and spatial skills during their periods even though they thought they would do worse.

Everyone from Chris Hemsworth to Lauren Miller Rogen is talking about Alzheimers prevention these days but you dont have to be a celebrity to help ward off this cognitive disease. Dr. Dean Ornish, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, asked 49 people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimers dementia to participate in an intensive program of diet, exercise, stress reduction and social interaction to see how it would affect their symptoms. While the study is small, Ornish and his team of scientists saw some encouraging results. Heres what they believe can improve brain functioning:

A plant-based diet

30 minutes of exercise a day (and yes, walking counts!)

Strength training three times a week

Manage stress through meditation, yoga and other relaxation exercises

Find some mental and emotional support (Ornishs participants went to a support group three times a week)

Take supplements that may improve cognition, such as omega-3s, a multivitamin, lions mane mushrooms and probiotics (as always, consult with your doctor first)

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Eat blueberries, adopt a Mediterranean diet. Things to do this week for your health and wellness. - Yahoo Life

A search is underway for Dr. Michael Mosley, a guru of intermittent fasting, after he failed to return from a walk Wednesday on the Greek island of Symi.

The 67-year-old British journalist, author and broadcaster is known for championing the so-called 5:2 diet, involving two days of extremely restricted calories followed by five days of normal, healthy eating.

He left for a walk along the coast at around 1:30 p.m., heading to the village of Pedi, police told Reuters. When he hadnt returned by 7:30, his wife raised the alarm.

A police dog and drone were brought over from neighboring Rhodes to help search the small, rocky island, and on Thursday a chopper was sent over from Athens.

Mosley was walking along a rocky, cliffside path near the Agios Nikolaos beach, a notoriously difficult area to hike. Most of Symis beaches are best reached by boat, BBC News reported.

Compounding the search was an intense heat wave, with temperatures projected to soar as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit, putting the island under a heat advisory, the outlet noted.

Moselys 2013 intermittent-fasting bible The Fast Diet, co-authored with journalist Mimi Spencer, laid out what would become known as the 5:2 diet. He later introduced the Fast 800 diet, designed for rapid weight loss.

He has appeared regularly on British television, written a newspaper column on health and has made several films focusing on diet and exercise.

Mosely won an Emmy for the BBC science documentary The Human Face, unpacking the science behind notions of beauty, as well as several other shows, most famously Channel 4s Who Made Britain Fat?

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Intermittent fasting guru Dr. Michael Mosley goes missing on Greek island - New York Daily News

Its a top-rated diet thats been tied to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, dementia and cancer.

Now, research from Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston has uncovered another health benefit of the Mediterranean diet: longevity.

Women who closely followed this well-researched eating pattern were nearly 25 per cent less likely to die during the long-term study. While this study focused exclusively on women, theres abundant research to show that the Mediterranean diet is widely beneficial for everyone.

Whats more, the researchers found evidence of biological changes to help explain how the diet may reduce the risk of death.

Heres a breakdown of the study, plus tips to incorporate this healthy eating plan into your lifestyle.

The study, published May 31 in the journal JAMA Network Open, followed 25,315 initially healthy women, average age 55, for up to 25 years.

At the studys outset, participants provided blood samples and diet information was obtained from questionnaires.

Health data was collected every six months for the first year and annually thereafter. Medical records and death certificates were used to determine cause of death.

Participants diets were assigned a Mediterranean diet score, from zero to nine, based on their regular intake of nine dietary components. A higher score indicated better adherence to the diet.

Higher intakes (defined as greater than the median/midpoint intake) of vegetables (excluding potatoes), fruit, nuts, whole grains, pulses (e.g., kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils) and fish were each given one point.

So was a higher intake of monounsaturated fat (e.g., olive oil, avocado, almonds, peanuts) compared to saturated (animal) fat.

One point was given for consuming less red and processed meats and also if alcohol intake fell between 5 and 15 grams per day. One standard drink 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces 5 per cent beer or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits contains 15 grams of alcohol.

Participants Mediterranean diet adherence was categorized as low (score 0 to 3), intermediate (4 to 5) or high (6 to 9).

Over the course of 25 years, 3,879 participants died.

Compared to women with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, those with high adherence were 23 per cent less likely to die from any cause over the study period.

Even intermediate adherence to the Mediterranean diet offered protection. Participants in this group had a 16 per cent lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to women with low diet scores.

When the researchers adjusted for potential risk factors (smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, menopausal status) the mortality risk reduced but remained statistically significant, meaning the finding is unlikely to be due to chance.

Higher Mediterranean diet scores were also associated with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Blood biomarkers of metabolism and inflammation explained the largest contribution of the diets health benefits, followed by triglycerides (fats), body mass index and insulin resistance.

The studys strengths include its large size and long follow-up period.

It doesnt prove, though, that closely following the Mediterranean diet helped participants live longer. Rather, the study found an association between the two.

Still, the new finding is consistent with other studies that suggest following the Mediterranean diet helps promote longevity.

Use the following tips to incorporate principles of the Mediterranean eating pattern in your lifestyle. Start by making one change and build from there.

Blend baby kale or pumpkin pure into a morning smoothie. Add chopped bell pepper, spinach and sliced mushrooms to breakfast egg dishes.

Include one to two cups (or more!) of vegetables at lunch and at dinner. Begin or end each meal with a green salad. Try one new vegetable each week.

Swap refined grains with whole grain versions such as brown rice, red rice, farro, quinoa, bulgur and barley. Look for breads and crackers made with 100-per-cent whole grains.

Try overnight oats for quick breakfasts. Or make a tabbouleh salad with bulgur or quinoa or a whole wheat pasta salad for an easy side dish.

For a quick dinner or meal prep lunch, build grain bowls with your favourite whole grain; add protein and load it with vegetables.

Add fibre- and protein-rich pulses to your summer menu with mixed bean, chickpea and lentil salads.

Make homemade black bean burgers youll find lots of recipes online. Substitute bean pasta for white pasta.

Toss chopped mint and parsley into green salads. Add dill to coleslaw. Sprinkle chopped basil over grilled vegetables.

Add cinnamon to overnight oats, Greek yogurt or ground coffee before brewing. Sprinkle turmeric into scrambled eggs and egg salad.

Herbs and spices not only add flavour, they also deliver anti-inflammatory polyphenols.

Enjoy a handful of nuts for a midday snack (pair nuts with fruit). Toss raw or toasted nuts or seeds into salads and bowls. Blend peanut, almond or pumpkin seed butter into smoothies and shakes

Leslie Beck, a Toronto-based private practice dietitian, is director of food and nutrition at Medcan. Follow her on Twitter @LeslieBeckRD

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Mediterranean diet helps women live longer, study finds - The Globe and Mail

The food choices we make today impact both our health and the health of the planet we live in. Researchers have discovered that adhering to a healthy, sustainable diet, termed the planetary health diet, can help preserve the environment and lower the risk of premature death.

The planetary health diet focuses on consuming plant-based foods with larger portions of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. While meat and dairy are included, they are consumed in much smaller amounts.

According to the results of the study published in the American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, better adherence to the planetary diet was associated with a 30% reduced risk of early death.

"Climate change has our planet on track for ecological disaster, and our food system plays a major role. Shifting how we eat can help slow the process of climate change. And what's healthiest for the planet is also healthiest for humans," said corresponding author Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition in a news release.

Previous studies have shown that plant-based foods offer greater benefits for both human and planetary health compared to animal-based diets. However, most of these studies relied on one-time dietary assessments. This makes the current study, which involved continuous dietary assessment over 34 years, particularly significant.

The study examined the health data of more than 200,000 participants of the Nurses' Health Study I and II and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The participants completed dietary questionnaires every four years for up to 34 years. The adherence to the planetary health diet was assessed based on their intake concerning 15 food groups including whole grains, vegetables, poultry, and nuts.

The results showed that the top 10% of participants with the most adherence to the planetary health diet had a 30% reduced risk of premature death compared to those in the lowest 10%. Greater adherence to the diet was also linked to a lower risk of death from all causes, including cancer, heart disease, and lung disease.

"In addition, the researchers found that those with the highest adherence to the PHD had a substantially lower environmental impact than those with the lowest adherence, including 29% lower greenhouse gas emissions, 21% lower fertilizer needs, and 51% lower cropland use," the news release stated.

"Our study is noteworthy given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has refused to consider the environmental impacts of dietary choices, and any reference to the environmental effects of diet will not be allowed in the upcoming revision of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The findings show just how linked human and planetary health are. Eating healthfully boosts environmental sustainabilitywhich in turn is essential for the health and wellbeing of every person on earth," Willett added.

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What Is Planetary Health Diet? Study Says It May Reduce Premature Death By 30% - Medical Daily

Women who closely follow a Mediterranean diet are significantly less likely to die prematurely than women who dont, a new study suggests.

Researchers examined medical data and dietary information collected over about 25 years from more than 22,000 women, starting when they were 56 years old on average. During the study period, a total of 3,879 people died.

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Women who followed this diet less strictly were still 16 percent less likely to die during follow-up than participants who only occasionally ate this way.

In addition, women who most closely followed a Mediterranean diet were 17 percent less likely to die from heart diseaserelated causes and 20 percent less likely to die of cancer during the study period.

This study provides further evidence to support the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet in reducing mortality, says Frank Hu, MD, PhD, a professor and chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

A Mediterranean diet can boost longevity due to the health benefits of the foods it emphasizes, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, beans, fish and seafood, and healthy fats like olive oil but also for the things it discourages people from consuming, like sugary beverages and red or processed meats, says Dr. Hu, who wasnt involved in the new study.

To assess how often participants ate this way, researchers rated adherence to a Mediterranean diet on a 9-point scale, with 0 indicating a participant never ate this way, and a 9 indicating that they always ate this way. Then, they grouped participants into three categories from lowest adherence to highest.

Even lower scores had longevity benefits, the study findings suggest. Each one-point increase in dietary scores reduced the risk of dying prematurely during follow-up by approximately 5 to 6 percent.

The more committed [to a Mediterranean diet], the more benefit. But even small changes impact health a lot, says lead study authorShafqat Ahmad, PhD, an associate professor of epidemiology at Uppsala University in Sweden and an affiliated researcher at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

For people who arent familiar with a Mediterranean diet or comfortable with totally overhauling their usual ways of cooking Dr. Ahmad suggests starting with simple changes like trying to just get more vegetables on your plate. If you dont have time to make a salad, just eat them raw, Ahmad says.

To shift from a typical western diet, one can make small and gradual changes, says Hu. For example, replacing unhealthy fats like butter and tropical oils with olive oil. Replace red and processed meats with plant proteins like legumes and nuts, as well as fish. Replace refined grains with whole grains.

The good news is that its possible to adapt many types of cuisines to follow many aspects of a Mediterranean diet, Hu adds.

The Mediterranean diet is not a rigid dietary regime, Hu says. It offers flexibility to incorporate healthy components tailored to individuals' cultural and food preferences and health conditions.

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Mediterranean Diet Lowers Risk of Premature Death by Nearly 25 Percent for Women - Everyday Health

Researchers found that the Mediterranean diet reduces all-cause mortality by 23% among U.S. women, likely due to beneficial changes in metabolism and inflammation markers, emphasizing its potential for improving public health.

Researchers at Brigham and Womens Hospital have explored and analyzed the fundamental reasons that might account for the Mediterranean diets 23 percent decrease in overall mortality risk among American women.

Researchers at Brigham and Womens Hospital have explored and evaluated the potential underlying mechanisms that could account for the 23 percent decrease in all-cause mortality risk among American women following the Mediterranean diet.

The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been reported in multiple studies, but there is limited long-term data on its effects on U.S. women and little understanding of why the diet may reduce the risk of death.

In a new study that followed more than 25,000 initially healthy U.S. women for up to 25 years, researchers from Brigham and Womens Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, found that participants who had greater Mediterranean diet intake had up to 23% lower risk of all-cause mortality, with benefits for both cancer mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

The researchers found evidence of biological changes that may help explain why: they detected changes in biomarkers of metabolism, inflammation, insulin resistance, and more. Results are published in JAMA.

For women who want to live longer, our study says watch your diet! The good news is that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern could result in about one quarter reduction in risk of death over more than 25 years with benefit for both cancer and cardiovascular mortality, the top causes of death in women (and men) in the US and globally, said senior author Samia Mora, MD, a cardiologist and the director of the Center for Lipid Metabolomics at the Brigham.

The Mediterranean diet is a plant-based diverse diet that is rich in plants (nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes). The main fat is olive oil (usually extra virgin), and the diet additionally includes moderate intake of fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, and alcohol, and rare consumption of meats, sweets, and processed foods.

The current study investigated the long-term benefit of adherence to a Mediterranean diet in a U.S. population recruited as part of theWomens Health Study, and explored the biological mechanisms that may explain the diets health benefits. The study investigators evaluated a panel of approximately 40 biomarkers representing various biological pathways and clinical risk factors.

Biomarkers of metabolism and inflammation made the largest contribution, followed by triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, adiposity, insulin resistance. Other biological pathways relate to branched-chain amino acids, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, glycemic measures, and hypertension have smaller contribution.

Our research provides significant public health insight: even modest changes in established risk factors for metabolic diseasesparticularly those linked to small molecule metabolites, inflammation, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, obesity, and insulin resistancecan yield substantial long-term benefits from following a Mediterranean diet. This finding underscores the potential of encouraging healthier dietary habits to reduce the overall risk of mortality, said lead author Shafqat Ahmad, PhD, an associate professor of Epidemiology at Uppsala University Sweden and a researcher in the Center for Lipid Metabolomics and the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Brigham.

The current study identifies important biological pathways that may help explain all-cause mortality risk. However, the authors note some key limitations, including that the study was limited to middle aged and older well-educated female health professionals who were predominantly non-Hispanic and white. The study relied on food-frequency questionnaires and other self-reported measures, such as height, weight, and blood pressure. But the studys strengths include its large scale and long follow-up period.

The authors also note that as the concept of the Mediterranean diet has gained popularity, the diet has been adapted in different countries and cultures.

The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are recognized by medical professionals, and our study offers insights into why the diet may be so beneficial. Public health policies should promote the healthful dietary attributes of the Mediterranean diet and should discourage unhealthy adaptations, said Mora.

Reference: Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Risk of All-Cause Mortality in Women by Shafqat Ahmad, M. Vinayaga Moorthy, I-Min Lee, Paul M Ridker, JoAnn E. Manson, Julie E. Buring, Olga V. Demler and Samia Mora, 31 May 2024,JAMA Network Open. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.14322

The Womens Health Study is supported by the NIH (grant Nos. CA047988, HL043851, HL080467, HL099355, and UM1 CA182913). Dr Ahmad was supported through a career-starting research grants from Swedish Research Council (2022-01460) and FORMAS (2020-00989) and also research grant from the EpiHealth, Sweden. Dr Demler was supported by a K award from the NHLBI of the NIH under award No. K01HL135342-02. Dr Mora was supported by the research grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (grant No. DK112940); NHLBI (grant Nos. R01HL160799, R01HL134811, R01HL117861 and K24 HL136852); American Heart Association (grant No. 0670007N); and the Molino Family Trust. In addition, LabCorp provided the LipoProfile IV results to the study at no additional cost.

Originally posted here:
Mediterranean Diet Tied to 23% Lower Risk of Death in Landmark 25-Year Study - SciTechDaily

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