The Mediterranean diet, at least when compared with other diets, is often associated with improved health, particularly heart and cardiovascular health. Comprised of key foods such as nuts, olive oil, and fatty fish, the Mediterranean has been linked to reduced risks for stroke and heart attacks, among other conditions. It’s also been linked to improved HDL cholesterol and reduced LDL cholesterol.
A new review study conducted by researchers from multiple organizations suggests that following the Mediterranean could also help boost overall levels of physical fitness, in addition to its other health benefits. The study is published in Advances in Nutrition.
So how exactly does that work?
Well, it all has to do with the nutrients people consume when they follow a Mediterranean diet. Specifically, many of the foods included in a Mediterranean diet, particularly olive oil, fatty fish, and even some fruits and vegetables, are antioxidant rich, which can lead to improved physical fitness.
The review study published in Advances sought to make connections between the Mediterranean diet and overall fitness, with a particular focus on different aspects of a person’s fitness (e.g., cardiological, musculoskeletal, etc.).
The review study included a total of 30 studies that ranged from 1972 to 2022, and included a range of cross-sectional, prospective, and randomized-controlled studies. Overall, their findings concluded that closely following a Mediterranean diet was directly associated with higher levels of physical fitness, including cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal fitness. Even when findings were adjusted to account for a range of other concomitant factors (age, BMI, etc.) there was no significant change in the connections between the Mediterranean diet and physical fitness.
Some limitations did emerge from the analysis, such as the fact that a range of populations were represented across the studies, making it harder to generalize findings. Overall, however, researchers still believe their review suggests that closely following the Mediterranean diet, in addition to its other health benefits, offers potential for people looking to improve overall physical fitness, as well.
Sources: Nutrition.org; Advances in Nutrition
