JERUSALEM, June 23 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers has found that a green Mediterranean diet may improve gene activity linked to heart health, diabetes prevention, and healthy aging, Israel's Ben-Gurion University of the Negev said in a statement on Tuesday.
The study, published in Clinical Nutrition, examined how a plant-rich version of the Mediterranean diet affects the body at the molecular level.
The diet emphasizes foods such as green tea, walnuts, and a daily shake made from the aquatic plant Mankai, while limiting intake of red and processed meat.
Researchers found that people who followed the diet had higher levels of folate, a vitamin involved in biological processes that help regulate gene expression. The changes were associated with better blood sugar control, lower inflammation, and reduced fat in the liver and around internal organs.
The study also showed that people with certain genetic risk factors for heart disease may benefit even more from the diet, with improved heart risk scores compared to those who did not follow it.
Researchers said the findings support the idea that food choices can play a role in long-term health and disease prevention. ■
