New research reveals that adhering to the Mediterranean diet may help reduce stress.
While the Western diet is said to be associated with raised stress levels, the MED diet, characterized by a high intake of plant-based foods and monounsaturated fatty acids, seems to offset stress and mental health problems by enhancing perceived stress’s positive characteristics.
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Mediterranean diet and Stress Reduction
Setting up the Mediterranean diet and the traditional Western diet may make you feel as though you are under less stress. This is as stated by a team from Binghamton University and the State University of New York in new research they have conducted.
The study indicates that it is possible for people to reduce their estimate of how much stress they can endure through a Mediterranean diet, according to Lina Begdache of health and wellness studies.
Mediterranean Diet’s Impact on Mental Wellbeing
“Stress is known to pave the way for mental distress, and studies proving this and studies that include our study show that the Mediterranean diet reduces mental distress.” Hence, the speculation is that the negative aspects of perceived stress are reduced and the positive features are enhanced by the Mediterranean diet.
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Research Methodology and Findings
Yes, it is plant-focused, with healthy fats and mostly composed of whole foods and the entire range of natural colors. The diet is quite different from the Western diet, which focuses on high quantities of highly glycemic and poor-quality processed foods.
Although the positive impact of the Mediterranean diet on both mental and physical health has already been postulated and proven, one aspect that has not been researched widely is that of perceived stress, which is defined as the level or amount of stress one is under at a certain point in time.
To examine this, Begdache and her students administered a survey to more than 1500 participants, which required the participants to complete a food frequency questionnaire and rate their perceived stress. Employing an ML model, it was found that the Mediterranean diet is inversely related to perceived stress and mental distress, while the Western diet is positively related to perceived stress and mental distress.
Closing the Research Gap
Begdache added that these outcomes exclude a precipitate in the literature since most of the studies that depicted diet and stress examined how stress influences diet preference and diet quantity. She and her team are studying various aspects of the brain and continued behaviors and their link with dietary habits.
The research under study is titled “Effects of Mediterranean and Western dietary patterns on perceived stress and mental distress,” and it is found in Nutrition and Health.
Reference: “Effects of Mediterranean and Western dietary patterns on perceived stress and mental distress” by Chowdhury U, Bubis S, Nagorny K, Welch M, Rosenberg, and Begdache , date of publication: July 24, 2024, journal: Nutrition and Health.
FAQs
Q. Does Mediterranean diet reduce stress?
A. It goes without saying that the Mediterranean diet is beneficial to your health. Recently suggested to help avert bowel cancer, heart disease, and dementia, scientists at the University of South Australia report that people who consume a Mediterranean diet feel less stressed and anxious.
Q. Why is the Mediterranean diet so successful?
A. Because the food list of the MD is comprised mostly of plant-based foods, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, the MD has the potential to lower the incidence of a variety of diseases, including cancer and diabetes. These ingredients can also reduce inflammation in your body to help the immune system remain healthy and avoid frequent attacks such as colds, among others.
Q. What are 2 important facts about the Mediterranean diet?
A. Another common diet plan is the Mediterranean Diet, which focuses on the intake of foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and healthy fats. Almost all what you eat consist of vegetables, fruits and whole grain products. Extra virgin olive oil is used for providing fat; it is the primary source of fat in the diet. Therefore, it is important to note that the Mediterranean style of diet can help reduce the incidence of diseases such as those associated with the heart and other chronic diseases.
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