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Sydney: Ladies follow a Mediterranean diet to improve your heart health and reduce your risks of cardiovascular disease and death by nearly 25 percent, suggests a study. The Mediterranean diet is rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil; moderate in fish/shellfish; low to moderate in wine; and low in red/processed meats, dairy products, animal fat, and processed foods. Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than a third of all deaths in women around the world. While a healthy diet, including a Mediterranean diet, has been a key plank of prevention, most relevant clinical trials have included relatively few women or haven't reported the results by sex, the researchers said. The new study, published in the journal Heart, is the first to focus on the association between a Mediterranean diet and incident CVD and death, specific to women. "We found that a Mediterranean diet was beneficial in women, with a 24 percent lower risk of CVD and a 23 percent lower risk of total mortality," said researchers including from the University of Sydney. The risk of coronary heart disease was 25 percent lower, while that of stroke was also lower, although not statistically significant, in those who most closely followed this diet compared with those who did so the least. The Mediterranean diet's antioxidant and gut microbiome effects on inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors are among the possible explanations for the observed associations, the researchers said. In addition, the diet's various components, such as polyphenols, nitrates, omega-3 fatty acids, increased fiber intake, and reduced glycaemic load, may all separately contribute to a better cardiovascular risk profile. "However, mechanisms explaining the sex-specific effect of the Mediterranean diet on (cardiovascular disease) and death remain unclear," they note, adding that the findings reinforce the need for more sex-specific research in cardiology. "Female-specific cardiovascular risk factors, including premature menopause, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes, or female predominant risk factors, such as systemic lupus, can all independently increase (cardiovascular disease) risk," the researchers said. For the data analysis, the researchers included 16 published studies involving more than 700,000 women aged 18 and above. The researchers also acknowledged various limitations to their findings, including that all the studies analyzed were observational and relied on self-reported food frequency questionnaires. Read More►Simple Urine Test Can Reveal Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease

The ancient practice of meditation can do more than just relax the mind. Recent studies have revealed that meditation can positively impact heart health by reducing stress and lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Mindfulness and meditation can benefit overall health, including heart health. The age-old practice uses quiet contemplation, breathing and sustained focus to help let go of stress and feel more calm and peaceful. It can be thought of as a mini-vacation from stress in life. Psychological stress increases the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. This causes a release of harmful hormones cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. These harmful hormones fasten the heart rate, increase cardiac output and narrow the arteries. As meditation induces deep relaxation in the mind and body, the stress subsides, and stability is restored. How to Make Meditation a Habit? Once people understand the basics of the practice, the next challenge is making it a habit. Like every other lifestyle change, it takes time to incorporate meditation into everyday life and build it into a routine. Here are some tips: Set a daily alarm on the phone or block out time on a digital calendar Try an app that reminds it's time to meditate and then record the length of the session Start by practising a few minutes every day and increase the time in small amounts until the goal is reached Meditation to Connect with the Heart's Energy Here are some simple steps to connect with the heart's Energy: Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Let go of any thoughts and the world outside. Focus the attention on the spiritual heart centre (the middle of the chest) and be aware of the heart as a space. Resting the attention on the heart centre, breathe gently and sense the breath flowing into the heart. One may also visualise a coolness permeating the chest. Breathe normally and steadily. For the next few minutes, sit and listen to the heart. The heart will gradually begin to release emotions, wishes, memories, dreams and fears long stored inside. If the mind wanders, gently return to the focus on the heart. Upon completing the meditation practice, take a few moments to reflect on the practice. Why Meditation can be Useful for Heart Health? Several studies have shown that meditation can lower stress levels, reduce cortisol levels and improve heart health. Meditation can activate the "rest-and-digest" functions of the body, which counteracts the "flight-or-fight" responses. With daily meditation practice, people can lower their heart rate and blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of heart diseases. Here's a look into what different studies have to say about meditation and heart health. Researchers in 2013 at the University of Sydney found that meditation can improve HRV. It is a significant marker of mental and physical health. After spending ten intensive days learning how to meditate, meditation drastically improved the heart's responsiveness. In 2021, the American Journal of Biomedical Science and Research published a report on meditation's effect on heart rate. It revealed that with time, meditation helps the heart to beat slower and become more consistent. This indicates that meditation may be effective in preventing heart diseases. The International Journal of Exercise Science published a study in 2017 on the effect of meditation on stressed college students. Throughout the 6-week-meditation programme, blood pressure and pulse decreased significantly. It takes time to learn meditation and gain confidence, as with any new endeavour. The important thing is to practice every day, even if only for a few minutes. Meditation, no matter how brief, is always preferable to doing nothing. A schedule can also be used to establish a routine. In addition, every day, one should try to practice meditation. Daily practice can have enormous benefits not only for the heart, but also for the mind, body, and soul. (Dr. Deepak Mittal, Founder, Divine Soul Yoga) Read More► 7 Indoor Exercises to Keep You Fit During Monsoon