Mediterranean diet can fix bad genes
Mon, Jun 06 2010
A new study suggests that following the heart healthy Mediterranean diet can promote heart function even in men who are genetically predisposed to poor heart health. Previous studies had reported that adopting a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains but low in saturated fats can stave off cardiovascular diseases.

According to the study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, adopting a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with a higher heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of the time interval between an individual's daily heart beats.

Higher HRV reflects good autonomic function of the heart, revealing that the organ has a higher capacity to adjust to the possible challenges and variations. Lower HRV, on the other hand, is a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

The more an individual's diet resembles a Mediterranean-style diet, the higher would be his/her HRV, the study found.

"This means that the autonomic system controlling someone's heart rate works better in people who eat a diet similar to a Mediterranean diet," concluded lead researcher Jun Dai, stressing that following such a diet can lower the risk of developing heart disease despite one's genetic makeup. 
Copyright Press TV