Effects of the Mediterranean diet on the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Summary: For people who have already suffered from heart disease, choosing what to eat is a matter of life and death. A new review of 16 clinical trials compares the famous Mediterranean diet against standard low-fat diets. The verdict? While both diets help lower blood pressure and weight equally well, the Mediterranean diet is the clear winner for long-term survival. Patients sticking to olive oil, nuts, and fish had fewer repeat heart attacks, better cholesterol profiles, and healthier blood vessels compared to those simply cutting fat. It turns out that quality of food matters more than just calorie counting when protecting a recovering heart.