Chemical secrets of the healthy Med diet

A MEDITERRANEAN diet is famously good for you because it is high in fruit and vegetables, while keeping red meat and dairy to a minimum.

But scientists have found another reason why it is so beneficial – it is rich in magnesium.

This is found in leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, meats and fish, which help reduce the risk of preventable diseases.

The key is not eating just one of the above but a wide range of foods containing the mineral, the researchers say. A magnesium-rich diet produced a 10 per cent lower risk of coronary heart disease, 12 per cent lower risk of stroke and a 26 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

The NHS recommends 300mg of magnesium a day for men and 270mg a day for women.

Yet 11 per cent of women and 16 per cent of men are magnesium deficient, while nearly half of teenagers do not have enough.

Dr Fudi Wang, lead author of the study at Zhejiang University in China, said: ‘Our analysis provides the most up-to-date evidence supporting a link between the role of magnesium in food and reducing the risk of disease. Even in developed countries such as the US, many adults fail to meet the recommended daily intake.’

The research, involving data from 40 studies covering 1999 to 2016, was published in BMC Medicine. Spices, beans and cocoa are also rich sources of magnesium.