Mediterranean diet linked to slower aging

Cinzia Cuneo February 2, 2015 Health, Mediterranean diet, World Cuisine

Quite a few people with the maximum longevity live along the Mediterranean coastline.

These people eat lots of fruits, vegetables, olives, nuts and beans that are locally produced in great abundance and variety, thanks to the favourable climate.

For decades now we’ve seen the correlation between this type of food and a lower incidence of cardiovascular and chronic diseases, but recently American researchers seem to have discovered the cell mechanism behind this veritable anti-aging diet.

This study carried out on 4,676 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study (a study that monitors the health and habits of more than 120,000 nurses in the United States since 1976) revealed that the DNA with respect to telomeres in those who followed a Mediterranean diet had become more resistant to age-related damage.

Telomeres are located at the ends of chromosomes. With each cell division, a process that increases naturally with age, the size of telomeres decreases.

The length of telomeres is considered to be a biomarker of aging: shorter telomeres are linked to a decreased life expectancy and a greater development of aging-related chronic diseases. Researchers analyzed the size of the participants’ telomeres through a blood test.

This study was published on December 2 in The BMJ, a British peer-reviewed medical journal. The research team was led by Immaculata De Vivo, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

These results confirm yet again the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for a healthier and longer life. Feel totally free to follow our menus which all are based on the Mediterranean food plan.

Author

Cinzia Cuneo

Cinzia Cuneo, founder of SOSCuisine.com, never wanted to neglect the quality of her food. She shares her special expertise to make good food quickly and without complications!