Mediterranean diet reduces stroke risk in women by 22 per cent, study shows

[DCUK NewsBot]

Eating a diet rich in fish, vegetables and nuts could help lower the risk of stroke in women, researchers have said. The Mediterranean diet has long been linked to positive health benefits such as weight loss and lower blood glucose levels. For these reasons, the diet has often been highlighted as beneficial for people with diabetes. Now, a team from Scotland says there is evidence it can reduce the chance of females having a stroke. Men did not reap as much of the same benefits from the diet, however. The researchers explain this could be because of men and women's contrasting physiology. The trial involved collecting data on more than 23,000 men and women, aged 40-77 years. They were all followed for 17 years, and their dietary habits were examined. Those who ate a Mediterranean diet reduced their risk for stroke by 17%. But when they broke down the findings between the genders, they saw the female reduction risk dropped by 22%, while males saw a 6% drop. Lead researcher Dr Phyo Myint, clinical chair of medicine at the University of Aberdeen School of Medicine in Scotland, said: "Simple changes in dietary habits may bring a substantial benefit regarding reducing stroke, which remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide." Explaining the differences between men and women, Dr Myint added: "It may be that certain components in the Mediterranean diet may influence risk of stroke in women more than in men." It is important to note that the study did not prove the Mediterranean diet lowered stroke risk, only that an association was made. However, many other studies have demonstrated benefits of a Mediterranean diet, which suggests that the diet is likely to be one of the best options. Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center said: "The Mediterranean eating style, which has great variations among several different cultures, is characterised by foods high in anti-inflammatory compounds, including fibre, vitamins, minerals and healthy plant compounds." Women with diabetes are deemed at greater risk of having a stroke than men owing in part to factors such as the oral contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy and various conditions during pregnancy like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. The researchers concluded: "Although the findings in our study were driven by the associations in women, they have implications for the general public and clinicians for prevention of stroke." The findings were published in the journal Stroke.

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[bulkbiker]

Study based entirely, it would appear, on a 7 day food diary collected at the start of the study that was apparently assumed to be typical of the following 17 years....
Their definition of a "Mediterranean Diet" may also be slightly suspect...
More rubbish I'm afraid.

 

[NicoleC1971]

And a Med diet is not Normal for Norfolk!

 

[Robinredbreast]

www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-mediterranean-diet/

Quote "The Mediterranean eating style, which has great variations among several different cultures, is characterised by foods high in anti-inflammatory compounds, including fibre, vitamins, minerals and healthy plant compounds." Women with diabetes are deemed at greater risk of having a stroke than men owing in part to factors such as the oral contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy and various conditions during pregnancy like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. The researchers concluded: "Although the findings in our study were driven by the associations in women, they have implications for the general public and clinicians for prevention of stroke." The findings were published in the journal Stroke.

My mum had many strokes when she became older and she didn't have diabetes, but then had heart failure. When I look at the findings (the pill, I also had a serious condition called HELLP syndrome and was extremely ill, my baby had to be delivered at 33 weeks) I do what I think is best for me and I am glad I eat fish, raw veg, fruit, meat, and many other foods, I mainly use olive oil and almond oil, still hoping to get to 50 years with type 1 (another 21 to go)

 

[Oldvatr]

Personally, I am using the Pioppi diet and find it is helping me control my T2D condition very well. I had 2 strokes and a heart attack when I was following the standard NHS Eawell diet, and so far touch wood been recurrence free for 5 years now. I have reached the tender youth point of 70 years, and have now been classed as safe to drive after renewing my driving licence, I have done LCHF and keto, but prefer the Pioppi diet since it gives me more freedom, and I can share the same food as I feed my family, so I only cook one meal for all interested parties.

The others are free to cheat as they wish, but I find I do not need to since the diet is quite sustaining and hence snack free but I can have the occasional treats and get away with it. Even had a chinese takeaway last night, and only rose by 1.1 mmol.l at 2 hours, whereas I used to go well over 20 mmol.l a few years ago, and that was on severe meds regime which I have reduced significantly.

I support the Med diet since it is IMHO better than Eatwell and a good step down the path to gaining control. I am an LC diet supporter too, and also support intermittent fasting as also being valid approaches. They all seem to help. Sad that it seems I only get a 6% boost from going Med, but my other pointers seem to have moved in the right directions on it too (BP, Chol etc)

Edit to explain: Pioppi is an LC variant of the Med diet that is supported by the Cardiologist Aseem Malhotra

 

[bulkbiker]

Personally, I am using the Pioppi diet and find it is helping me control my T2D condition very well. I had 2 strokes and a heart attack when I was following the standard NHS Eawell diet, and so far touch wood been recurrence free for 5 years now. I have reached the tender youth point of 70 years, and have now been classed as safe to drive after renewing my driving licence, I have done LCHF and keto, but prefer the Pioppi diet since it gives me more freedom, and I can share the same food as I feed my family, so I only cook one meal for all interested parties.

The others are free to cheat as they wish, but I find I do not need to since the diet is quite sustaining and hence snack free but I can have the occasional treats and get away with it. Even had a chinese takeaway last night, and only rose by 1.1 mmol.l at 2 hours, whereas I used to go well over 20 mmol.l a few years ago, and that was on severe meds regime which I have reduced significantly.

I support the Med diet since it is IMHO better than Eatwell and a good step down the path to gaining control. I am an LC diet supporter too, and also support intermittent fasting as also being valid approaches. They all seem to help. Sad that it seems I only get a 6% boost from going Med, but my other pointers seem to have moved in the right directions on it too (BP, Chol etc)

Edit to explain: Pioppi is an LC variant of the Med diet that is supported by the Cardiologist Aseem Malhotra

Agree that Pioppi is probably pretty good but not sure that what the authors of the paper class as Mediterranean is quite Pioppi..

 

[Oldvatr]

Agree that Pioppi is probably pretty good but not sure that what the authors of the paper class as Mediterranean is quite Pioppi..

I did point out that Pioppi is a variant. It is often promoted as a cardiac support tool to reduce CVE risk, but I find it is a good basis for a diabetic friendly diet that may suit those seeking LC but not wanting or needing to go ketogenic, and also those put off by the HF part of LCHF. It is a comfortable middle ground that may help, and may be applied to either T1D or T2D so ticks my boxes. So to give a response, it may be that in fact Pioppi may give even better results than the paper is claiming if the reduced carbs reduce inflammation and IR directly compared to standard Med diet.

 

[bulkbiker]

I did point out that Pioppi is a variant. It is often promoted as a cardiac support tool to reduce CVE risk, but I find it is a good basis for a diabetic friendly diet that may suit those seeking LC but not wanting or needing to go ketogenic, and also those put off by the HF part of LCHF. It is a comfortable middle ground that may help, and may be applied to either T1D or T2D so ticks my boxes. So to give a response, it may be that in fact Pioppi may give even better results than the paper is claiming if the reduced carbs reduce inflammation and IR directly compared to standard Med diet.

I'm guessing that Pioppi doesn't include potatoes and bread? I will admit to not having read the book. Whereas the researchers seem to think that the Med diet does (and that's just one example).

 

[Oldvatr]

I'm guessing that Pioppi doesn't include potatoes and bread? I will admit to not having read the book. Whereas the researchers seem to think that the Med diet does (and that's just one example).

From what I remember of the original Med diet that the NHS supported, it was basically a low GI diet with lots of olive oil and fish. Pioppi is similar, but emphasises the Omega-3 aspect.

Here is a sort of summary article on Pioppi
https://www.getthegloss.com/article/the-pioppi-diet-weekly-meal-plan

As I said in other posts of mine, it seems to be a marriage between Med and LCHF, and much of it is familiar to those on LCHF

Note: the article does include an active link to a description of the Mediterranean diet. Please note that this takes you to an article on a vegetarian website, and so there is a definite bias in their discussion.. It is THEIR interpretation of what Med diet is. Anyone wanting to try either of these diets should get the proper book for their info, since both these articles I invoked here are someone's personal interpretations only.

 

[Mr_Pot]

Interesting that Ancel Keys lived in Pioppi for some time studying the diet of the residents and he decided their longevity was due to them not eating much saturated fat. I guess you tend to find what you are looking for.

 

[Robinredbreast]

I have been reading these links :
/health.spectator.co.uk/the-pioppi-diet-is-a-superficial-lifestyle-guide-based-on-distorted-evidence/

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/02/mediterranean-diet-obesity-health-way-of-eating

 

[Oldvatr]

I have been reading these links :
/health.spectator.co.uk/the-pioppi-diet-is-a-superficial-lifestyle-guide-based-on-distorted-evidence/

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/02/mediterranean-diet-obesity-health-way-of-eating

That article starts with
"Hard to define, but famously good for us, this way of eating is far from universally followed even in the countries it came from" so declares its bias in the first line. In the article it praises Ancel Keys, and then says it is incompatible with modern life and cannot replace the tv dinners and supermarket prepacked meals, which I agree has truth in it. Cooking healthy food is not mass produced by definition, This auhor is expousing the modern throw away society, and probably blames LC for causing so much single use plastic to boot. Much better to take it out of the box, slap it in the microwave, then flush it down the loo later. Simples. All frozen to beggary.

The article oozes bias at every sentance it is better than an enema. It is full of sh

Actually forced myself to read to the end, and this is how it concludes
"There is no doubt that the Mediterranean diet is good for you. But shifting the habits of nations to adopt, cook and eat it regularly in societies dominated by packaged food manufacturers is quite a task."

So his beef is with the educating and motivating people to make healthy changes, which he seems to think is impossible so why bother? Pathetic argument IMO.

 

[bulkbiker]

Interesting that Ancel Keys lived in Pioppi for some time studying the diet of the residents and he decided their longevity was due to them not eating much saturated fat. I guess you tend to find what you are looking for.

That's exactly why Dr Malhotra went there to look at what they in fact ate so far as I am aware.
It also would seem that Dr Keys tried to amend a lot of his earlier pronouncements later in life but found it impossible to get them published... a victim of his own errors perhaps. If he had managed perhaps he would have been the Prof Noakes of his generation.

 

[rosco 2]

I was brought up in Sri Lanka and parts of Africa, the “Mediterranean diet” is anathema to me and my beloved taste buds. Lucky those who like that kind of food but count me out.

 

[Robinredbreast]

That article starts with
"Hard to define, but famously good for us, this way of eating is far from universally followed even in the countries it came from" so declares its bias in the first line. In the article it praises Ancel Keys, and then says it is incompatible with modern life and cannot replace the tv dinners and supermarket prepacked meals, which I agree has truth in it. Cooking healthy food is not mass produced by definition, This auhor is expousing the modern throw away society, and probably blames LC for causing so much single use plastic to boot. Much better to take it out of the box, slap it in the microwave, then flush it down the loo later. Simples. All frozen to beggary.

The article oozes bias at every sentance it is better than an enema. It is full of sh

Actually forced myself to read to the end, and this is how it concludes
"There is no doubt that the Mediterranean diet is good for you. But shifting the habits of nations to adopt, cook and eat it regularly in societies dominated by packaged food manufacturers is quite a task."

So his beef is with the educating and motivating people to make healthy changes, which he seems to think is impossible so why bother? Pathetic argument IMO.

Just a couple of links, it's up to whoever reads it to make up their minds. There are so many different views on so many different subjects on the internet.

 

[Oldvatr]

Just a couple of links, it's up to whoever reads it to make up their minds. There are so many different views on so many different subjects on the internet.

It may be two links in your mind, but seems to be only one active one. The first is missing the start info that triggers a weblink. I responded to the second one

Try
https://health.spectator.co.uk/the-...-lifestyle-guide-based-on-distorted-evidence/

One point I read was the author saying
"I have neither the time nor inclination to fact-check all of their claims so I will allow for the possibility that they might be right from time to time."
then dismisses all this evidence as bunkum without giving counter arguments. It is his personal opinion, thats all.