The Mediterranean diet has been attributed to improving health in many different ways but new research adds to the list benefits. Scientists from the University of South Australia have found the Mediterranean diet is able to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety.
The Mediterranean diet is characterized by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables along with whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes and olive oil. It also encourages the consumption of fish and other lean protein sources while limiting the intake of red meats and processed foods. It has been attributed in other studies to help prevent the risk of cancer, heart disease and dementia.
This study was conducted in conjunction with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the findings were published in the journal Nutrients. Researchers wanted to know what sort of impact such a diet would have on the mental health of older Australians and discovered it reduced the severity of anxiety and stress in those over the age of 60 regardless of gender, sleep, and BMI.
Specifically, several elements of the Mediterranean diet were singled out (fruit, nuts, legumes and low intake of sugar-sweetened drinks) as being the most important factors in reducing the severity of stress and anxiety.
Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge in the world today and it is estimated that as many at 40 million people in America struggle with some sort of anxiety disorder.
Dr. Evangeline Mantzioris from UniSA said the research showed a Mediterranean diet can play a big role in improving mental health and quality of life.
"Globally, we're facing an unprecedented aging population, yet despite this longevity, many people continue to struggle with their health and well-being," Dr. Mantzioris says. "Lifestyle behaviors, including diet quality, are gaining more attention as modifiable risk factors for poor mental health, with the Mediterranean diet endorsed for reducing chronic disease risk and supporting healthy aging.
"In this study we showed that when older people adhered to a Mediterranean diet, their symptoms of stress and anxiety declined—and that this occurred regardless of their age, gender, BMI or how much sleep and exercise they were getting," she added. "It's a big tick for the Mediterranean diet—through a relatively easy lifestyle change, people can markedly improve their stress and anxiety levels—who wouldn't want to give it a go."