Mediterranean diet

 Metabolic syndrome includes hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia(hypercholesterolemia), and obesity, which cause cardiovascular diseases.

 

 Metabolic syndrome comes from insulin resistance, which is due to decreased production of insulin in the pancreas and increased resistance to insulin action in the body tissue.

 

 Insulin resistance causes vascular disease like atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis by accumulation of fat tissue in the endothelial layer in the blood vessel and ectopic fat deposition outside the blood vessel. The affected blood vessels in the major organs, such as heart, liver, pancreas, kidney, and brain, lead to thrombosis or vessel injured hemorrhage and result in loss of function of organs.

 

 What kind of diet is preventive for insulin resistance?

 (Answer) Mediterranean diet.

 

 The components of the Mediterranean diet are as follows;

1.     Extra-virgin olive oil.

2.     Nuts.

3.     Fresh vegetables or herbs.

4.     Dairy products (cheese and yogurt).

5.     A proper amount of good carbohydrate product (rice, whole wheat, grains)

 

 Among the five above components, extra-virgin olive oil and nuts are key factors of the Mediterranean diet.

 

Reference

Estruch R, Ros E, Martinez-Gonzalez MA. Mediterranean diet for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. New England Journal of Medicine 2013. Aug 15;369(7):676-7.

 

Author: SEOK WOO YANG, MD & PhD

Date: 2020.02.21