Mediterranean Diet Wins Again
By: Nathaniel Allen
Mediterranean Diet Wins Again, Helps Bones
Written By: Morgan Manella
Date of Post: March 28, 2016
Article Summary
A recent study has shown that a Mediterranean diet for post menopause women presents a lower risk that they could suffer from bone fractures. A Mediterranean diet mainly consists of fish, vegetables, unrefined grains, fruits, nuts and olive oil. These are some of the main components of being on a Mediterranean diet as well consuming a reduced amount of dairy, red meat and saturated fats. The article continues to then go into more detail about osteoporosis and how on average women are more likely to encounter higher risks of osteoporosis. The data was collected from over 40 clinical centers across the United States, which included around 90,000 women with an average age of 64. They then recorded their diets using a frequency questionnaire. These women were then touched base with after 16 years and the data regarding those who were fairly consistent with a Mediterranean diet had a 0.29% decreased chance of encountering a bone fracture.
Article Critique
This article is posted on CNN which is a well known and distinguishable source of news. The article written by Megan Manella, a CNN Health and Medical News Unit writer. She is currently a senior at Emory University studying journalism and media studies. I personally feel that the fact that she is a senior in college can pull away from the validity of the article but she does a great job of providing the main points of the study. There was a large amount of helpful information that anyone can take away from the article. While looking at the research structure, the data was acquired over a 16 year period where the information was taken from a large poll of women and taken from 40 different clinical sites throughout the U.S. giving the research study a diverse group of people. Another factor to consider is that the average age of the women was 64 years old. Each of these subjects for the research study had to take a WHI Food Frequency Questionnaire, which based on their results placed them in one of four diet categories. The research process has a large sample population and follows the subjects for a long period of time. Those two factors are very important and they help confirm the conclusions drawn about the benefits of the diet. The information in the article is well put together by the author. Not only does she write about the research study, but also places quotes from members of the research team stating the benefits associated with a Mediterranean diet, besides that it can help reduce the effects of osteoporosis for post menopause females. Along with this the author does a nice job of ending the article on a note that lets everyone know that dietary measures and changes are real ways that can help better your overall health instead of having to always resort to pharmaceutical measures by placing a quote from a doctor.