Mediterranean diet can improve mental and physical wellbeing

It has long been recognised that eating a Mediterranean diet can be good for the body; now researchers say it is also good for the mind and can improve your quality of life.

Scientists say a Mediterranean oil-rich diet of fish, seafood, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts and pulses can improve your mental wellbeing as well as your physical health.

While researchers admit they don’t quite know how the diet impacts on health and quality of life, they point out that the diet has been shown to reduce the threat of chronic illness and encourage a lower mortality rate.

The four year study, by researchers from the University of Navarra in Spain and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, followed 11,000 university students, measuring their self-perceived quality of life.

The study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that those who ate a Mediterranean diet scored higher on physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the quality of life questions.

Now the researchers have released a food pyramid, helping everyone to eat the healthy Mediterranean way.

The rules state:

Nutritionally-beneficial olive oil should be the main source of fat in the diet
Fish, lean meat and eggs should only be eaten moderately
Moderate consumption of wine is also encouraged
Meals should never lack either cereal or fruit and vegetables
Two litres of water should be drunk each day
Sugar, cakes, sweet drinks, sweets and pastries (at the top of the food pyramid) should only be eaten in small amounts and consumed occasionally.

Patricia Henrmquez Sanchez, lead researcher on the project, said: “The progressive ageing of the population in developed countries makes it even more interesting to find out those factors that can increase quality of life and the health of the population.

“The Mediterranean diet is an important factor associated with better quality of life and can be considered as a healthy food model.”