Eating a Mediterranean-style diet may do more than protect the heart and body. A new study suggests it could also help older adults feel happier, more positive, and better able to enjoy life.
The Mediterranean diet is based on traditional eating habits in countries such as Greece, Italy, and Spain. It includes plenty of vegetables, fruit, beans, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, and fish, while limiting processed foods, sugary snacks, and large amounts of red meat.
For many years, scientists have linked this eating pattern with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some forms of dementia. More recently, researchers have begun exploring whether it can also improve mental health.
The latest study, carried out by researchers from University College London and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), was published in BMJ Open. Unlike many earlier studies that focused mainly on depression, this research looked at positive psychological well-being.
This includes feeling independent, having a sense of purpose, enjoying life, feeling energetic, being optimistic about the future, and believing you have control over your own life. The researchers analysed information from 3,296 adults aged 50 to 90 who were taking part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
Participants recorded everything they ate and drank on two different days between 2018 and 2019. Their emotional well-being was then measured through questionnaires completed between 2018 and 2020. The researchers found that people whose eating habits were closer to the Mediterranean diet generally reported higher levels of psychological well-being.
This relationship remained even after taking into account factors such as depression and socioeconomic status. The study also provided an interesting look at the COVID-19 pandemic. Many participants experienced lower emotional well-being during lockdowns and restrictions.
However, people who followed the Mediterranean diet more closely showed a smaller decline in their emotional health than others, suggesting that healthy eating may have offered some protection during a stressful period. The scientists stress that this was an observational study, meaning it cannot prove that the diet directly caused better well-being.
Other healthy habits may also have contributed. However, growing evidence suggests that Mediterranean foods may reduce inflammation, support healthy gut bacteria, improve brain function, and help regulate the body’s response to stress.
This study is strengthened by its large number of participants and by following people over time, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its biggest limitation is that it cannot establish cause and effect.
Even so, the findings add to increasing evidence that healthy eating may benefit both physical and mental health, making the Mediterranean diet a sensible choice for many older adults.
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Source: University College London and ISGlobal.
