The Mediterranean diet is repeatedly reported to have beneficial effects on heart health; however, the mechanisms for the cardiovascular benefits are not completely known. The Mediterranean diet is rich in fish, nuts, olive oil, vegetables and fruit. Researchers from London explained that when the unsaturated fatty acids found in fish, nuts and olive oil are eaten with nitrate or nitrite, which is found in many vegetables, nitro fatty acids are formed in the body. These fatty acids adduct to soluble epoxide hydrolase and inhibit it, resulting in lower blood pressure. When mice were genetically engineered to be resistant to the inhibition of this enzyme, they were no longer protected from hypertension when consuming the nitro fatty acids. This study provides insight into the mechanisms that explain how consuming vegetables can aid in the reduction of high blood pressure.

Long-term obesity and cardiovascular, inflammatory and metabolic risk in U.S. adults

Given that many people in the U.S. are becoming affected by obesity at a young age, there is longer exposure time to obesity now than ever before. A study was conducted to examine how BMI at age 25 predicts obesity later in life. The study examined data from adults in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that individuals already affected by obesity at age 25 are likely to face a future of weight problems after age 35, including severe obesity. The researchers also found that a person's present weight, not the length of time they were affected by obesity, was a better predictor of metabolic and cardiovascular risk. This suggests losing weight at any age may reduce metabolic risks, even if the person was previously affected by obesity for an extended duration.