For the past few years, health experts have hailed the Mediterranean Diet as the nutritional holy grail. The diet has been found to prevent inflammation, boost heart health, lower the risk of cancer, improve longevity, and keep the brain sharp, and is inspired by the flavors and cooking methods of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. According to current studies, the diet may also help to minimize the risk of frailty as people age.
The diet's concentration on fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains, according to a new study published in the journal Gut, enhances beneficial gut bacteria Frailty, which can include persistent low-grade inflammation, the development of chronic diseases like diabetes, and mobility challenges in older persons has been related to greater brain function, memory, and a lower likelihood of becoming frail.
Researchers followed 612 adults aged 65 to 79 from five European countries—the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Poland—who were frail or on the verge of frailty at the start of the study. Half of the participants were told to eat a Mediterranean-style diet consisting primarily of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, olive oil, and fish, with small amounts of red meat, dairy products, and saturated fats. The other half continued to eat what they normally did.
At the end of the study, researchers discovered that those who followed the diet for a year had a smaller diversity of bacteria in their gut microbiome (i.e., microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract). They also had an increase in beneficial bacteria, which has been linked to reduced frailty, increased brain activity, and improved memory. The results were similarly unaffected by the participants' country or microbiome composition at the start of the trial, according to the researchers.
The study authors wrote, "Our findings suggest the possibility of altering one's habitual diet to modulate the gut microbiota, which has the potential to promote healthy aging."
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