A large body of research has already been amassed that points to the benefits that a Mediterranean diet may offer to your cardiovascular health.

Now, a new study carried out in Spain suggests that following this type of eating plan – with an extra dose of nuts each day – may help people keep their metabolic abnormalities in check, which can help them avoid heart-related illnesses.

In the terms of the study “metabolic abnormalities” refers to factors such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high glucose levels and high cholesterol.

The researchers tested the benefits of a traditional Mediterranean diet against one that was supplemented with 30 grams daily of mixed nuts and another that included extra olive oil.

They found that after one year, the rate of metabolic abnormalities in the nut-eating group had fallen by 13.7 percent, compared with 6.7 percent in the olive oil group. The control group saw only a 2 percent decline.

According to the authors, this type of diet could be “a useful tool” for those looking for health resources to manage their metabolic abnormalities.

A Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high consumption of grains, vegetables and fresh fruit and relatively low intake of meats, dairy products and fast foods.