Role of Mediterranean Diet and Its Components on Cardiovascular Diseases

Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada

^* Corresponding author: beijia.liu2@mail.mcgill.ca

Abstract

In recent years, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, coronary heart diseases, stroke and has increasingly become a major factor causing global mortality. Mediterranean diet is a good dietary pattern since it can prolong people’s life expectancy and help people eat in a healthier way. It is characterized by a large number of plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes, olive oils, etc. In this paper, it is aimed to analyse current evidence of the relationship between the main components of Mediterranean diet and the risk of cardiovascular events in order to give an authoritative information on this relationship, reducing CVDs incidence and mortality. The study finally resulted in convincing evidence that Mediterranean diet is one of the good dietary habits to decrease the risk of all-cause cardiovascular mortality due to its specific components such as healthy omega-3 fatty acids, extra-virgin olive oil, polyphenols, and whole grains.