Tag

Mediterranean Diet

All articles tagged with #mediterranean diet

health-and-wellness2 days ago•20 min saved

The Mediterranean Diet in Practice: What the World's Top Nutrition Scientist Eats

Walter Willett, the world's most-cited nutrition scientist, advocates for a Mediterranean-style diet rich in plants, whole grains, and healthy fats to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. At 81, Willett's research has fundamentally shifted American dietary guidelines away from low-fat approaches, emphasizing the quality of fats and carbohydrates instead. His work also contributed to the removal of trans fats from the food supply. The Washington Post profiled his daily eating habits, highlighting how his personal diet aligns with his decades of research on lifestyle choices that shape chronic illness risks.

via The Washington Post|

#harvard-th-chan-school-of-public-health #health-and-wellness #heart-health

health-and-nutrition16 days ago•20 min saved

New Study Links Plant-Forward Diets to Deeper Sleep and Lower Heart Rates

A large-scale study published in Nature Health finds that diets high in fiber and plant diversity improve sleep quality and lower nighttime heart rates. While heavier evening meals may extend sleep duration, they do not improve sleep quality and can raise heart rates. Experts emphasize overall dietary patterns over specific meal timing.

via The Washington Post|

#cardiovascular-health #dietary-fiber #health-and-nutrition

health1 month ago•16 min saved

Food that nourishes your mouth's good bacteria

A healthy mouth depends on a diverse oral microbiome; brushing and flossing matter, but diet shapes which bacteria thrive. Limit sugary and refined carbs, eat leafy greens high in nitrate, add polyphenol-rich foods like tea and berries, enjoy cheese to boost saliva, and include fermented foods to support beneficial bacteria. Overall, a plant-forward Mediterranean-style diet supports a balanced oral ecosystem rather than relying on a single “superfood.”

via BBC|

#dental-health #diet #health

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Fiber-Fueled Mediterranean Day: A Gut Health Scientist's Menu

A UK gut-health scientist who follows the Mediterranean diet aims for about 30 g of fiber daily and notes that fiber supports digestion, lowers cholesterol and balances blood sugar while feeding gut microbes to reduce cardiovascular, colorectal cancer, and diabetes risk. His typical day includes overnight oats soaked in kefir for breakfast, a lunch of whole-wheat pasta Greek salad, and a one-pot dinner of fatty fish with legumes and vegetables (often with whole-grain bread).

via Business Insider|

#fiber #gut-health #health

health1 month ago•24 min saved

Conversations, Not Crosswords: The Brain’s Top Health Hack

Neurologist Dr. Douglas Scharre says the brain benefits most from social interaction—talking, reading, and quick mental processing—because it strengthens neural connections and builds cognitive reserve that helps guard against dementia; while activities like puzzles help, passive TV/phone time can be harmful. He advises a holistic brain-health plan: quality sleep, metabolic health (blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol) management, stress reduction, a Mediterranean-style diet, and a balanced mix of aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance exercises, with regular tracking of diet, sleep, and activity to catch issues early.

via New York Post|

#brain-health #cognitive-reserve #health

health-and-wellness1 month ago•58 min saved

A Hepatologist's Liver-Saving Grocery Rule: Ditch Sugar-Sweetened Drinks

Transplant hepatologist Dr. Brian T. Lee says liver health is shaped by daily food choices. He minimizes sugar-sweetened beverages due to their link to liver fat and weight gain, favors a liver-friendly Mediterranean-style diet rich in produce, whole grains and unsaturated fats, and swaps in water, unsweetened tea, and black coffee. He also cautions against ultra-processed foods and refined carbohydrates and notes moderation of alcohol for liver health.

via AOL.com|

#coffee #health-and-wellness #liver-health

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Eight Daily Habits for Lifelong Vitality as You Age

Geriatric experts list eight lifelong habits to promote healthy aging: stay physically active (including non-gym options like walking or gardening), try tai chi to reduce falls and boost brain health, protect hearing and vision to support social interaction and activity, follow a Mediterranean-style diet to lower dementia risk, avoid tobacco, limit alcohol intake, and stay mentally, socially, and physically engaged after retirement. Starting these changes at any age can yield meaningful benefits, including better sleep, weight management, and reduced dementia risk (tai chi may add 3–6 years of healthy brain life with regular practice).

via HuffPost UK|

#dementia #exercise #geriatrics

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Mediterranean-style Med-South diet rivals Weight Watchers in long-term weight management

A UNC study comparing Med-South (a Southern-adapted Mediterranean diet) with Weight Watchers found both programs produced similar weight loss over two years, but Med-South improved diet quality and sustainability by emphasizing whole foods and behavioral changes guided by dietitians rather than strict point tracking.

via New York Post|

#diet-quality #health #med-south

wellness1 month ago•17 min saved

Eight Habits Geriatric Doctors Say Boost Health and Longevity

Geriatric medicine experts outline eight lifelong habits to promote healthy aging: prioritize regular physical activity (including tai chi), protect hearing, address vision loss to stay active, follow a Mediterranean-style diet, don’t use tobacco, limit alcohol, and stay mentally and socially engaged after retirement, noting that starting these habits at any age can yield meaningful health benefits.

via HuffPost|

#aging #dementia-prevention #geriatrics

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Lithium in the Brain: New Clues on Dementia Risk but No Proven Remedy

Harvard researchers analyzing metals in brains found lower lithium levels in the prefrontal cortex of people with cognitive impairment and dementia. In mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, lithium—especially lithium orotate—appeared to reduce pathology by interacting with amyloid beta, but this does not translate to proven benefits in humans. Lithium supplementation for dementia prevention remains unproven and could carry toxicity risks, so more research is needed. In the meantime, brain health is best supported by Mediterranean/MIND-style diets, ensuring vitamin D and B12 sufficiency, and considering multivitamin supplementation for potential cognitive decline risk reduction.

via BBC Science Focus Magazine|

#alzheimers-disease #brain-health #dementia

health1 month ago•60 min saved

Eight Everyday Habits That May Cut Dementia Risk, Doctors Say

Top doctors say dementia isn’t fully preventable, but eight doable daily habits—move regularly, follow a Mediterranean/MIND-style diet, stay socially connected, challenge your brain, protect your hearing, aim for seven hours of sleep, check vitamin B12 and D levels, and mind your oral health—can meaningfully lower risk and support memory as you age.

via AOL.com|

#brain-health #dementia #exercise

health2 months ago•11 min saved

Evolutionary Eating: No Diet Is Optimal, So Mix the Best of Them

Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman argues in Fed Up that no single diet works for everyone because our biology and genetics shape how we respond to foods. He recommends combining the strengths of various approaches (favoring minimally processed, plant-rich foods and Mediterranean-style patterns, with modest animal foods) while avoiding extremes, focusing on weight stability, regular exercise, and practical, home-cooked meals. The piece also discusses how dieting can trigger hunger, the potential of GLP-1 drugs for appetite, and the importance of sustainable lifestyle factors over “optimal” diets.

via The Boston Globe|

#diet #evolution #health

health2 months ago•9 min saved

Plant Polyphenols May Help Preserve Brain Function as We Age

A review suggests polyphenols in tea, berries, cocoa, and other plant foods may support healthy brain aging via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, though no single food prevents dementia. Because gut bacteria transform polyphenols, responses vary among individuals, so long-term dietary patterns like the Mediterranean or MIND diets are more likely to support cognitive health than supplements.

via SciTechDaily|

#brain-aging #dementia #gut-microbiome

health2 months ago•6 min saved

Mediterranean Diet Taps Tiny Mitochondrial Messengers for Heart and Brain Protection

An observational USC-led study found that older adults with strong adherence to a Mediterranean diet had higher blood levels of mitochondrial microproteins humanin and SHMOOSE, which are linked to cardiovascular and neuroprotective effects. Specific diet components correlated with each protein (olive oil, fish, and legumes with higher humanin; olive oil and lower refined carbs with higher SHMOOSE), suggesting a new pathway by which the diet may promote healthy aging and offering potential biomarkers for diet response, though causality cannot be established from the study.

via ScienceDaily|

#health #humanin #mediterranean-diet

wellbeing2 months ago•22 min saved

5 Simple Ways to Start the Mediterranean Diet for Heart Health and Longevity

The Washington Post Well+Being piece highlights decades of research showing the Mediterranean diet—rich in plant-based foods and lean proteins—improves cardiovascular health and may lower cancer and Type 2 diabetes risk, with a large Spanish trial reporting about a 30% reduction in heart attacks and strokes. It also provides five easy ways to adapt the diet to different cuisines and lifestyles.

via The Washington Post|

#heart-health #longevity #mediterranean-diet