A collaboration between Australian researchers has shown that the classic Mediterranean diet with added dairy has the potential to change the composition of gut bacteria for the better, triggering a variety of health benefits.
Funded by Dairy Australia and published in Nutrients, the study assessed how the classic Mediterranean diet, supplemented with milk, cheese, and yogurt, can affect gut microbiome.
Adult trial participants at risk of heart disease who followed the diet for eight weeks showed a sizeable increase in beneficial microbes associated with positive effects on overall gut health, alongside a decrease in bad bacteria linked to heart disease risk.
Flinders University Senior Research Scientist, Dr Jocelyn Choo, who led the microbiome analysis, says the findings support a correlation between the balance of microbiome, intestinal health, and cardiometabolic health.
"We found that as participants increased the number of good microbes in their gut, they also presented with lower blood pressure,"Choo explained.
"These improvements are significant, given the potential implications for reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke."
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