Diseases prevented by a Mediterranean diet
A Mediterranean diet contains more fruit, vegetables, nuts, fish and olive oil than other diets designed to prevent cardiovascular disease (Bach-Faig A et al. 2011)
The nutrients in a Mediterranean diet have beneficial effects on the gut microbiome and metabolism, which play key roles in maintaining a healthy immune system that prevents harmful inflammation.
Inflammatory diseases result from harmful inflammation and include:
- obesity, type 2 diabetes
- many forms of cancer
- cardiovascular disease
- all types of arthritis
- Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis
- ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis
- psoriasis, atopic eczema, acne, hidradenitis suppurativa
- sarcopenia and chronic kidney disease
- osteoporosis
- sepsis, complications of COVID-19 and other infections
