People who adopt a Mediterranean lifestyle, which is characterized by a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, responsible eating habits that minimize the intake of added salt and sugar, and habits that encourage adequate rest, physical activity and social interaction, have a lower risk of death from all causes and cancer, according to a recent study conducted by the Universidad Autònoma of Madrid and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
In addition, people who adopt a lifestyle that focuses on relaxation, physical activity, and socializing with friends have a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
The research was recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. is one of the few studies to explore the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet outside of its home country and to assess the overall health benefits of adopting a Mediterranean lifestyle.
While many studies have confirmed the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, there have been few studies on the Mediterranean diet outside of its country of origin.
"This study shows that it is possible for non-Mediterranean populations to adopt a Mediterranean diet using local products and adopt a holistic Mediterranean lifestyle within their own cultural context," said lead author Mercedes-Sotos-Prieto, a Ramon and Cajal Fellow at the Universidad Autònoma of Madrid and an adjunct assistant professor of environmental health at the Harvard Chan School. "We see the portability of this lifestyle and its positive effects on health."
Researchers analyzed the lifestyle habits of 110,799 members of the UK Biobank cohort using the Mediterranean Lifestyle (MEDLIFE) Index, a population-based study of England, Wales and Scotland derived from lifestyle questionnaires and dietary assessments.
Participants, aged between 40 and 75, provided information about their lifestyles based on three categories measured by the index: "Mediterranean food intake" (the intake of foods such as fruits and whole grains in the Mediterranean diet), "Mediterranean dietary habits" (habits and practices surrounding meals, including salt restriction and the consumption of healthy drinks), and "Physical activity, rest, social habits and conviviality" (lifestyle habits, including regular naps, exercise and spending time with friends). Each item in these three categories was then scored, with higher total scores indicating greater adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle.
The researchers followed the participants' health nine years later. Among the study population, 4,247 people died from all causes, 2,401 from cancer, and 731 from cardiovascular disease. By analyzing these results and the MEDLIFE score, the researchers found an inverse relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean lifestyle and risk of death.
Compared with participants with lower MEDLIFE scores, participants with higher MEDLIFE scores had a 29% lower risk of death from all causes and a 28% lower risk of cancer death. Adherence to each category of MEDLIFE was associated with a lower risk of death from all causes and cancer. Of these, the "physical activity, rest, social habits and gatherings" category was most strongly associated with a reduction in these risks, in addition to a reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.