Olive oil and nuts food keys to reduce the risk of heart disease: study

Washington: diet rich in Mediterranean olive oil, nuts, fish, fruits, legumes and wine may reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease by 30 percent, and a major new study found.The study followed, published by the New England Journal of Medicine .4479 people in Spain - the men and women at the age from 55 to 80 - over a period of five years, and to find confirmation exciting previous observations of these health benefits of food "noticed. That energy Mediterranean diet unrestricted, led supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or nuts, to a significant reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events high-risk people, "put concluded.It study in reducing the risk of" nearly 30 percent, among people who were high risk initially free of heart disease and blood vessels, and these results support the benefits of the Mediterranean diet to reduce the risk of heart and blood vessels. Then the participants were divided in the study, which was led by Ramon Estruch, professor of medicine at the University of Barcelona, ​​including the three groups, the control group, the low-fat group diet.One traditional Mediterranean diet supplemented by four tablespoons of extra - extra virgin olive oil a day. And followed by the second group of the same diet, but instead of olive oil consumed about 30 grams per day of mixed nuts.Participants in those two groups also ate at least three servings of fruits and two of beans a day. Also ate fish three times a week, preferably white meat such as chicken instead of red meat.As they do not strongly encouraged to eat baked commercially and pastries and desserts, and reduce the consumption of dairy products and meats.For address those who drank wine usually with their meals, called their diet for a period of seven glasses of wine week.Researchers can see if the study participants they follow the diet by measuring the signs of olive oil in the urine or blood marker for mixed nuts.They and found that participants stuck and Mediterranean meals, but this low-fat diet control led to only small reductions in fat. "The aim of the interventions aimed at improving the overall pattern of food, but large-group participation differences complementary elements," the study said. "Thus, extra virgin olive oil and nuts may have been responsible for most of the observed benefits of meals Mediterranean," said he .