141 Virgin Olive Oil Benefits Fortunately, risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome can be modulated. There is evidence suggesting the benefits of dietary changes (by consuming specific foods, always within the context of a healthy dietary pattern) combined with regular physical activity on metabolic syndrome treatment and prevention. 11.2. Key role of diet on metabolic syndrome prevention The progressive ‘Westernisation’ of our lifestyle is concomitant with a rise in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Such an increase is due to a profound change in dietary habits, as plant-based foods have been replaced by ultra-processed foods, red meat, sugary beverages, salt, and saturated fats. In contrast, the Mediterranean diet is characterised by a high consumption of fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and poultry, a reduced intake of red meat and processed food, and the use of virgin olive oil as a main source of fat. Although there is not a universal Mediterranean diet, the common characteristic for all its types is its high fat content (particularly monounsaturated, but also polyunsaturated) which ranges from 35% to 45% of the total energy consumed and comes mainly from virgin olive oil. Despite such a high fat content, the up-to-date performed studies have demonstrated the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, indicating a fat-rich dietary pattern provides benefits when the fat is a healthy one. The Mediterranean diet has been reported to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in an elderly population (the PREDIMED study, Prevention with Mediterranean diet). Moreover, strong adherence to this diet has been associated with a 50% reduction in metabolic syndrome prevalence, as it can improve metabolic syndrome features such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, and high blood pressure. Intervention studies regarding the benefits of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular risk are currently on-going, both in a population with a previous cardiovascular event (CORDIOPREV, CORonary Diet Intervention with Olive oil and cardiovascular PREVention, study) and in one with metabolic syndrome (PREDIMED-PLUS). Their results are expected to yield further knowledge on the health-giving benefits of this diet. 11.3. Virgin olive oil and metabolic syndrome A healthy daily consumption of virgin olive oil has been established at 23 g/ day (around one and a half tablespoons) and 20 g/day by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), respectively, in order to provide benefits on protecting blood lipids
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