# R6 | meta/muse-spark-1.1 | run 2

## Prompt

Summarize the main documented health effects of the Mediterranean diet in 4-5 points, with a citation for each claim.

## Response

I'll gather current evidence on the Mediterranean diet's health benefits and pull supporting citations for each key effect.

I've identified the core health effects from the literature and secured supporting references. Now I'll synthesize them into a concise summary with citations.

The Mediterranean diet — rich in minimally processed plant foods, olive oil as the main fat, and low in meats and sweets — is one of the most studied dietary patterns for chronic disease prevention.

**Main documented health effects:**

- **Cardiovascular disease prevention:** A study funded by NHLBI found a 25 percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease among participants who consumed a Mediterranean-type diet rich in plants and olive oil and low in meats and sweets [How the Mediterranean diet lowers risk](https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2018/how-mediterranean-diet-lowers-risk-cardiovascular-disease).

- **Reduced risk of multiple chronic diseases and increased life expectancy:** Consuming a Mediterranean diet has been associated with a reduced risk of developing multiple chronic diseases and increased life expectancy [Health Benefits Review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7190876/).

- **Type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation and breast cancer prevention:** Data from randomized clinical trials have demonstrated a beneficial effect in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and breast cancer [Clinical Trial Evidence](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7190876/).

- **Lower all-cause mortality:** In a study that followed more than 25,000 U.S. women for up to 25 years, participants who closely followed the Mediterranean diet had up to a 23 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality, with benefits for both cancer and cardiovascular health [Harvard Gazette Study](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/06/women-who-follow-mediterranean-diet-live-longer/).

- **Improved metabolic and inflammatory markers:** The diet is also known to improve surrogates of cardiovascular disease, such as waist-to-hip ratio, lipids, and markers of inflammation [Mediterranean Diet Components Review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7190876/).

Would you like a breakdown of which specific foods and quantities define a traditional Mediterranean diet score?
