Mediterranean diet linked to reduced stroke risk in massive study.
A two-decade-long investigation has found a significant association between following a Mediterranean diet and lower risk of all types of stroke. The study, published in the journal Neurology Open Access, suggests that adhering to this dietary pattern could potentially reduce stroke risk by up to 25%, with the greatest benefits seen for hemorrhagic strokes.
Researchers from the US and Greece analyzed data from over 105,000 women aged 53 on average, who were followed for an average of 21 years. The women's diet was assessed using a score system, which awarded points for consuming high amounts of olive oil, nuts, seafood, whole grains, and vegetables, as well as moderate amounts of alcohol.
The findings show that those with higher scores, indicating closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet, were 18% less likely to experience a stroke compared to those with lower scores. This association was seen across all types of strokes, including ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.
While the study does not prove a causal link between the Mediterranean diet and reduced stroke risk, experts welcomed the findings, highlighting the "huge potential" for reducing stroke incidence by improving dietary habits.
The study's lead author, Sophia Wang, noted that the results support the growing body of evidence linking healthy diets to cardiovascular disease prevention. The researchers also highlighted the importance of further studies to confirm these findings and better understand the underlying mechanisms.
Haemorrhagic strokes, which account for a smaller proportion of stroke cases but are often more severe, showed the greatest benefit from Mediterranean diet adherence. This is significant, as fewer large studies have investigated this subtype of stroke.
The Stroke Association chief executive, Juliet Bouverie, praised the study's findings, stating that "nine out of 10 strokes were preventable" and that the results provide valuable insight into reducing stroke risk through dietary changes.
A two-decade-long investigation has found a significant association between following a Mediterranean diet and lower risk of all types of stroke. The study, published in the journal Neurology Open Access, suggests that adhering to this dietary pattern could potentially reduce stroke risk by up to 25%, with the greatest benefits seen for hemorrhagic strokes.
Researchers from the US and Greece analyzed data from over 105,000 women aged 53 on average, who were followed for an average of 21 years. The women's diet was assessed using a score system, which awarded points for consuming high amounts of olive oil, nuts, seafood, whole grains, and vegetables, as well as moderate amounts of alcohol.
The findings show that those with higher scores, indicating closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet, were 18% less likely to experience a stroke compared to those with lower scores. This association was seen across all types of strokes, including ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.
While the study does not prove a causal link between the Mediterranean diet and reduced stroke risk, experts welcomed the findings, highlighting the "huge potential" for reducing stroke incidence by improving dietary habits.
The study's lead author, Sophia Wang, noted that the results support the growing body of evidence linking healthy diets to cardiovascular disease prevention. The researchers also highlighted the importance of further studies to confirm these findings and better understand the underlying mechanisms.
Haemorrhagic strokes, which account for a smaller proportion of stroke cases but are often more severe, showed the greatest benefit from Mediterranean diet adherence. This is significant, as fewer large studies have investigated this subtype of stroke.
The Stroke Association chief executive, Juliet Bouverie, praised the study's findings, stating that "nine out of 10 strokes were preventable" and that the results provide valuable insight into reducing stroke risk through dietary changes.
I'm totally stoked about this news! A Mediterranean diet has always been my go-to for a healthy lifestyle 
. It's no surprise that it's linked to reduced stroke risk - all those fruits, veggies, and nuts are basically a recipe for heart health 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to reduce their stroke risk by up to 25%? That's like, totally worth making some dietary changes for 
. And the fact that it's most beneficial for hemorrhagic strokes is like, awesome news too! More research should be done to confirm these findings and figure out why it works so well, but I'm already feeling more confident in my own Mediterranean diet habits 
they shouldve done a male group too tho 
might wanna see how the diet affects men differently 
! This Mediterranean diet has been on my radar for ages. It's crazy to think that a 25% reduction in stroke risk is possible just by switching up your meal plan. I've got a friend who's always saying she wants to "eat better" but hasn't quite figured out what that looks like, so this might be the nudge she needs 
. And yeah, fewer large studies on hemorrhagic strokes - more research there would be awesome! 
I'm not surprised to hear that a Mediterranean diet is linked to reduced stroke risk... my kids are always asking me what they can eat more of, and it sounds like olive oil and nuts are good choices! 
But seriously, this study makes so much sense - we've been talking about healthy eating for years, and it's great to see the science backing it up. I'm definitely going to share this with my friends who have family members with high blood pressure... maybe we can all help reduce our stroke risk together! 
and i'm still on a high from it! i mean, have you guys ever tried to reach the top of that one hill with like, zero visibility? it was crazy 
. and then when i finally made it, the view was literally breathtaking 
. i swear, it's funny how something as simple as nature can make me forget all about stuff like...stroke risk 
. anyway, this mediterranean diet thing sounds pretty cool, but have you guys ever tried making hummus from scratch? it's like, super easy and delicious 
. but let's not forget, it's not just about the diet... lifestyle changes, exercise, stress management too... all that jazz 
. now if only we could get everyone on board with this... 
. I mean, what about people who are gluten-intolerant or have lactose issues? Are they just supposed to ignore those dietary restrictions and just chow down on olives and grapes all day? 
And let's not forget that this study only looked at women - what about men? Do we need a separate Mediterranean diet for blokes too? 
). Seriously though, reducing stroke risk is crucial, especially with the older folks in our family. It's great to see studies like this highlighting the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. Maybe we can all take a page out of Sophia Wang and her team's book and make some changes to reduce our own risk 
or learn how to cook something delicious for once. The more we focus on prevention and healthy habits, the better off we'll be as a society. 
a mediterranean diet can literally reduce your risk of having a stroke by up to 25% wow that's insane! 
i'm so glad the researchers did this study they're like total heroes in my book 
the fact that it shows hemorrhagic strokes had the greatest benefit from adhering to the mediterranean diet is just mind-blowing 
! And yeah, hemorrhagic strokes are super scary, so any little bit we can do to reduce that risk is a good thing 