The Mediterranean diet has been hailed for its health benefits, but a new study suggests it may not improve sleep quality as much as some hope.
A recent investigation delved into the effects of the popular diet on sleep and overall life quality, which is closely linked to mortality due to its association with cardiometabolic health.
The research, published in The Journal of Nutrition, specifically examined the impact of low and high glycemic index (GI) versions of the diet on individuals with metabolic syndrome.
The findings suggest that the diet could indeed offer “modest improvements” in areas such as vitality, particularly when following the low-GI version.
However, contrary to online claims, the study found no significant change in sleep quality between those following the low-GI and high-GI diets.
Over half of the participants reported poor sleep quality, while 18% said they often felt excessively sleepy during the day.
The study, conducted from January 2018 to March 2020, found that both the low and high-GI groups saw a “significant improvement” in their general health and vitality.
Despite no difference in sleep quality being observed between the two groups, an improvement was noted in sleep latency – the time it takes to fall asleep.
The study focused on individuals with metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.
The study, conducted across Sweden, Italy and the United States, revealed that having metabolic syndrome or its associated conditions can heighten your cardiometabolic risk and adversely affect your health over time.
The research involved participants following a specific diet for 12 weeks, with those who completed the full diet generally experiencing “better or similar” well-being and health compared to the average American.
The study’s participants were primarily older and middle-aged adults exhibiting at least two features of metabolic syndrome.
One such feature was abdominal obesity, while others ranged from elevated blood pressure to reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.