Mediterranean diet could protect against harmful effects of air pollution

A new study has found that a Mediterranean diet can protect against the harmful damage caused by air pollution, the Daily Mail reported.

Eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains drastically reduces the risk of dying for a pollution-related health issue.

For 17 years, researchers from New York University studied and examined 548,699 adults from across America. They studied people's exposure to different types of air pollution.

Adults exposed to higher levels of pollution were more likely to die from heart attacks and heart disease, researchers found. However, the increase in death rate were reduced by those who followed a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and poultry.

"Previous studies have shown that dietary changes, particularly the addition of antioxidants, can blunt the adverse effects of exposure to high levels of air pollution over short time periods," Chris Lim, researcher from the New York University School of Medicine, told the Daily Mail.

"What we did not know was whether diet can influence the association between long-term air pollution exposure and health effects."

The findings of the study were presented at the American Thoracic Society's annual conference in San Diego, California.

According to the report, lead author of the study Professor George Thurston said the "adoption of a Mediterranean diet has the potential to reduce the effects of air pollution in a substantial population in the United States".

Researchers feel anti-oxidants found this particular diet is what helps tackle the effects of air pollution.