Mediterranean diet boosts kids' cardiovascular health From plate to heart

The Mediterranean diet is among the most popular diets recommended by the doctors and among the dieters for several years, as this eating environment is considered one of the healthiest for the people with the chronic health disorders or with the risk factors for heart diseases. But, it is not limited to the adults. Intervention study by a group of cross-national researchers has revealed that children and adolescent with better nutrient diets characterized by fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats have better cholesterol and blood pressure than less healthy wonderful eaters. 
 
Even though the use of the Mediterranean diet is related to improved health in adults, there is limited data on its impact on youths. This diet that involves the use of olive oil, nuts, fish, legumes and fruits and the avoidance of red meat, sweets, and processed meals seems to have a positive affect on children’s cardiovascular health. A study that has been published in JAMA Network Open has indicated that the inclusion of such foods can go a long way in safeguarding the young ones’ heart health. 
 
That is why it is crucial to determine how the Mediterranean diet favors or hinders children health. 
 
Nine papers with 577 children, aged from three to 18, were analyzed by the scientists to assess the impact of the diet. These interventions ranged from eight to 40 weeks and included various groups: obese kids and those with moderately controlled diabetes as well as the overweight, hypercholesterolemic children and other normal healthy children. The findings were encouraging. In other words, children who consumed more foods in accordance with the Mediterranean diet had their systolic blood pressures decrease by 4. 72 points on average. It is also evident that they had lower mean concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol The HDL ‘good’ cholesterol, on the other hand, was detected to have elevated slightly. 
 
Altogether, even though the shifts that can be distinguished may not appear very large, their contribution towards the overall effects on a long-term maintenance of the heart’s health might be rather critical. Childhood obesity significantly reduce life expectancy, and high blood pressure and increased cholesterol level are risk factors for heart disease. Apparently, enhancing these signs in childhood, a Mediterranean diet can help to grow healthy adults with less problems with their cardiovascular system. 
 
It is now understandable as to why Mediterranean diet is friendly to the heart and greatly improves cardiovascular health. It contains food that is good for the heart and has other nutrients that suppliers the cardiovascular system. Virgin olive oil and nuts bulk monounsaturated fats and fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products are sources for fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. Fish provides omega 3 fatty acids. These composite parts offer an anti-inflammatory impact, and stabilizing of the levels of cholesterol, which is as a result beneficial to the heart. 
 
The Mediterranean diet does not include servings of foods that are usually detrimental to the health of the heart. It limits cholesterol coming from foods like red and processed meats and whole-fat dairy, and bad trans and saturated fats, sugars, and processed foods. This aspect is particularly advantageous for overweight children, that in most cases, consume a proportionately higher quantity of such unhealthy foods. The authors of the study stress the understanding that their observations indicate the necessity of promoting healthy eating habits from the early age. It may be feasible to improve the cardiovascular health of children either through introducing school-based programmes that encourage Mediterranean-style diets or through family interventions where children are encouraged to modify their diets in Mediterranean style.