A study shows that pregnant women who follow the Mediterranean diet have a reduction between 25 and 28% in anxiety levels, while having better well-being and sleep quality.
The study was led by researchers from the Clinical Hospital and of the Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS)with the support of the “la Caixa” Foundation.
From previous studies, the benefits in the general population of the Mediterranean diet, which promotes the intake of plant foods rich in antioxidants (fruits, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and whole grains), are widely known, but this is the first trial that evaluates it and demonstrates it in pregnant women.
Anxiety and stress disorders are becoming more frequent in pregnant women and it is estimated that 1 in 5 future mothers can suffer from them.
The new study is a second part of the IMPACT project, which has already shown that the Mediterranean diet or mindfulness (meditative techniques to relax) during pregnancy reduce the risk of having a low-weight baby by up to a third.