Mediterranean diet found to help people beat stress

Mediterranean-style diets have long been considered one of the best ways to ward off deadly illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

But now new research shows eating like the Greeks or Italians could also help many of us cope with everyday stress.

A major five-year study involving more than 10,000 men and women found those sticking to a healthy Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, fruit, vegetables and fish had much higher levels of psychological resilience – equipping them to handle the stresses and strains of daily life.

But others who gorged on Western-style diets high in animal fats, sugary breakfast cereals and excess alcohol scored significantly lower on mental resilience.

The findings, by a team at the Mediterranean Neurological Institute in Pozzilli, Italy, suggest healthy eating is just as important for mental as physical health.

Researchers think diets low in saturated fat and carbohydrates make a major contribution to psychological wellbeing, boosting our ability to deal with the ups and downs of life.

To test the idea, experts tracked 10,812 adults who were taking part in a longterm health study in the Molise region of south-central Italy.

They recorded eating habits and then tested each one on the Psychological Resilience Scale – a scoring system which rates people’s ability to cope with mental strain from zero to 100.

The higher the score, the better able they are to handle stress.

The results, in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed those indulging in regular intake of fish, fruits, vegetables, olive oil and moderate amounts of alcohol had the highest scores.

But those opting for sugary cereals, red meat and binge drinking had the lowest.

Researchers said: “Psychological resilience is a measure of stress-coping ability and can be viewed as the extent to which a person maintains a positive view of life.

“A Mediterranean diet, vegetable-based dietary patterns and better diet quality were all positively associated with higher psychological resilience, whereas Western-type diets were not.”

Earlier this year, Australian researchers found the Mediterranean diet also helped those suffering from severe depression. 0 The lives of people who lived and worked in New Lanark featured in a sound and light projection show as part of the Scottish Government’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. The event at the historic site, Shining Lives, attracted 4,000 visitors last weekend. It portrayed the development of the region’s industries and musical history.