Mediterranean diet plus olive oil to avoid "old bones"

The Mediterranean diet is a long-standing healthy diet that has been proven in many studies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. The latest report from the British Daily Mail points out that foreign studies have further found that long-term Mediterranean diet combined with at least 50 ml of olive oil can reduce the risk of osteoporosis in old age.

According to a research report published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, a research team from Hospital Dr Josep Trueta in Girona, Spain, conducted a controlled experiment on 127 patients aged 55 to 80 with hypertension and diabetes. They found that the group that added more than 50 ml of extra virgin olive oil to the Mediterranean diet every day had a significant increase in the concentration of osteocalcin and other bone-making substances after one year. Osteocalcin is a hormone that has been discovered in recent years to help regulate insulin secretion. Therefore, in addition to reducing osteoporosis, olive oil can also effectively inhibit the occurrence of type 2 diabetes.

Research expert Dr. Jose Manuel Fernandez-Real said that the preventive effect of olive oil on osteoporosis has been confirmed by experimental studies in the past, but this study is the first time that its real function has been demonstrated on humans. The omega-6 fatty acids contained in olive oil are essential fatty acids for the human body and are very effective in controlling obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Nutritionists also point out that the Mediterranean diet can improve vascular function, especially in the cardiovascular system.

The Mediterranean diet is a pyramid-structured diet, which is based on eating more vegetables, fruits, cereals, and nuts, followed by fish and seafood, and the top layer is poultry and dairy products. Drinking a moderate amount of red wine every day can help promote metabolism and protect the heart. Consuming 50 ml of olive oil can maintain bone health.