La diète méditerranéenne traditionnelle pour la prévention de l'infarctus et des cancers

There is now a consensus about recommending the Mediterranean diet pattern for the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), acute myocardial infarction and stroke. The unanimous opinion is indeed that no other dietary pattern has been successfully tested so far. The most important aspect, in contrast with the pharmacological prevention of CHD (including cholesterol lowering), is that the Mediterranean diet results in a striking effect on survival. The main explanation is that the Mediterranean diet is protective not only against CHD but also against other various chronic diseases including cancers. Furthermore, the Mediterranean diet appears to be effective to reduce coronary atherosclerosis and the risk of fatal complications like sudden cardiac death and chronic heart failure of coronary atherosclerosis. Finally, no harmful side effect has been reported following the adoption of that dietary pattern, unlike drug therapies.