Physiological effects of a short-term, lifestyle intervention based on the Mediterranean diet - comparison between older and younger healthy, sedentary adults

Our ​ ​health​ ​is​ ​determined​ ​by​ ​many​ ​different​ ​factors (e.g., ​genetical,​ ​environment​al ​and lifestyle-related).​ ​Nutrition​ ​is​ ​a​ ​major,​ ​modifiable​ ​factor​ ​which​ ​contributes​ ​to​ ​our​ ​health​ ​and​ ​disease risk.​ ​The​ ​risk​ ​of​ ​developing​ ​cardiovascular​ ​disease​ ​(CVD)​ ​increases​ ​with​ ​age,​ ​but approximately​ ​50%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​adult​ ​population​ ​and​ ​30%​ ​of​ ​children​ ​are​ ​ considered​ ​at​ ​high​ ​risk​ ​of developing​ ​CVD​ ​[1].​ ​Additionally,​ ​events​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​menopause​ ​(which​ ​causes​ ​a​ ​decline​ ​in oestrogen,​ ​which​ ​has​ ​detrimental​ ​effects​ ​on​ ​t he​ ​cardiovascular​ ​system),​ ​increases​ ​the​ ​risk​ ​of developing​ ​CVD​ ​in​ ​post-menopausal​ ​women​ ​[2].​ ​CVD​ ​affects​ ​more​ ​than​ ​7​ ​million​ ​people​ ​in the​ ​UK,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​cost​ ​ of​ ​managing​ ​cardiovascular​ ​diseases​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UK​ ​is​ ​more​ ​than​ ​£28​ ​billion per​ ​year​ ​[3].​ ​Thus,​ ​developing​ ​new​ ​methods​ ​of​ ​reducing​ ​the​ ​burden​ ​of​ ​CVD​ ​...
Source: Nutrition - Category: Nutrition Authors: Source Type: research