The Best Diet for Life
The Mediterranean diet is among the most highly recommended eating plans. But which of its components brings the biggest benefits? In a recent study in the British Medical Journal, researchers tracked over 22,900 adults in Greece. They found that eating a lot of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes (like beans and peas) had the greatest impact on increasing longevity. Eating less meat was also associated with a longer lifespan. Surprisingly, a high intake of cereals and seafood had little to no positive effect.
In related research a study in the Archives of Neurology showed that the Mediterranean diet reduced people's risk of experiencing dementia or of its progressing. In a group of adults with no dementia symptoms at the study's start, those who most closely adhered to the Mediterranean diet had a 28% lower risk of developing cognitive impairment. In a group that already had impairment, the people who best followed the plan had a 48% lower risk of getting full-blown Alzheimer's disease. --Adapted from Parade, August 16, 2009.
Comment: The SDA diet, of course, which is totally plant-based has been found to be adequate and superior. Indeed the only Blue Zone in America is located in the Loma Linda area where several SDA centenarians are thriving on a meatless diet.
Suzanne
