Scientists from MAGI Euregio in Italy and elsewhere found that citrus, cucumber, and grape in the Mediterranean diet offer great health benefits.
Fruit and vegetables are excellent sources of health-promoting bioactive compounds.
Research has found that regular intake of fruit and vegetables helps prevent the onset and progression of many chronic diseases.
The Mediterranean diet is a primarily plant-based eating plan that includes a daily intake of whole grains, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, beans, and other legumes, nuts, herbs, and spices.
Other foods like animal proteins are eaten in smaller quantities, with the preferred animal protein being fish and seafood.
The Mediterranean diet focuses on the consumption of healthy vegetables and fruit on a daily basis for maximum health benefits.
Many studies scientifically proved the beneficial effects of Mediterranean vegetables and fruits and other vegetable-based and fruit-based diets.
In the current review, researchers focused on citrus, cucumbers, and grapes in the Mediterranean diet.
Rich in bioactive phytochemicals, these fruits and vegetables have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties.
Studies showed that intake of citrus, cucumbers, and grapes reduces high blood pressure, high blood sugar, skin problems, and infections and improves the health of the heart and the nervous systems.
These beneficial effects are influenced by several bioactive molecules, such as flavones, isoflavones, tannins, polyphenols, and many beneficial natural molecules.
This review examined the bioactive ingredients in citrus fruit, cucumbers, and grapes, all components of the Mediterranean diet, and their health effects.
The researchers suggest that a deep understanding of the Mediterranean diet’s components, as well as clinical trials to test natural molecules’ beneficial effects, will help find the potential of the Mediterranean diet in preventing several health conditions.
The research was published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene and conducted by Zakira Naureen et al.
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