Scientists from Ben Gurion University in the Negev found that the green Mediterranean diet significantly reduces the stiffness of the aortic walls, thereby reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Research published in the journal JACC.
300 people participated in the study, which lasted more than 18 months. To measure aortic stiffness, the scientists used MRI, the most accurate non-invasive method for assessing aortic stiffness. Proximal aortic stiffness is an important indicator of vascular aging that serves to predict morbidity and mortality.
A green Mediterranean diet high in polyphenols reduced proximal aortic stiffness by 15%, a Mediterranean diet by 7.3%, and a diet based on healthy eating recommendations by 4.8%. The green version differs from the traditional Mediterranean diet with its high dietary polyphenol content, which are substances of plant origin. The study was the first to show that a particular diet can reduce aortic stiffness.