You've probably heard about the Mediterranean diet - it's pretty popular nowadays, and it's often seen as extremely healthy.
People who eat it look naturally better and younger, and their health seems to be way better.
A new study explains why it happens pretty well.
More about the study
A recent study discovered that following a Mediterranean lifestyle can lower the risk of various health issues, including cancer and heart disease.
This Mediterranean lifestyle involves a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as healthy eating habits like reducing salt and sugar intake.
Additionally, it encourages behaviors such as getting enough rest, staying physically active, and socializing with friends.
How the study was conducted
This study focused on people living outside the Mediterranean region and examined how they could adopt and benefit from the Mediterranean lifestyle.
To carry out the research, habits of 110,799 individuals in the UK were observed. A tool called the Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) index was used to assess how closely they followed this lifestyle.
The MEDLIFE index looked at three main areas: how much Mediterranean-style food they ate, their dietary habits in line with the Mediterranean way, and their behaviors related to physical activity, rest, and socializing.
After nine years of monitoring these participants, the results showed that those who scored higher on the MEDLIFE index had a 29% lower risk of all-cause mortality (death from any cause) and a 28% lower risk of cancer-related mortality compared to those with lower scores.
Why it might be helpful
The study's findings suggest that people can improve their well-being by incorporating aspects of the Mediterranean lifestyle into their daily routines, even if they live outside the Mediterranean region.
