Mediterranean Diet Lowers Cholesterol, Improves Metabolism

U.S. researchers have found that adhering to a heart-healthy diet reduces “bad cholesterol” (LDL) in men with high risk of heart disease, regardless of weight loss. Nineteen men with metabolic syndrome aged 24 to 64 were fed a standard North American diet for five weeks. For another five weeks they were fed a Mediterranean-style diet, then a 20-week weight-loss regime, then five more weeks of the Mediterranean diet. Results showed a nine percent decrease in LDL and improved metabolism. Doctors recommended the Mediterranean diet for effective management of metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, high waist circumference, high levels of triglycerides and low levels of HDL (“good cholesterol”).