The Mediterranean diet not only provides health benefits such as a sharp mind, strong heart and thin waistline, but also strong bones based on a new study.  It found that senior women who ate foods such as fish, beans, whole grains, and olive ate were less likely to suffer hip fractures.   

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The new study was published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Researchers evaluated data from 40 clinical centers located in the United States and included over 90,000 women who were an average 64 years old. Scientists compared the participants' diets to four popular health diets including the Mediterranean diet as well as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH).  

This study examined if diet quality influenced the bone health of postmenopausal women. Researchers learned that a Mediterranean diet helped women to be slightly less likely to have hip fractures.

About 16 years later researchers learned that 2,121 cases of hip fractures had taken place, and about 28,700 cases of total bone fractures. Women whose dietary habits were most like the Mediterranean diet had hip fracture rates that were 0.29 percent lower than those who maintained other diets.  

The Mediterranean diet includes healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, olive oil, beans, nuts, whole grains, and fish. In addition, the diet includes a limited amount of dairy, meat, and saturated fat, but allows one glass of red wine per day.

Dr. Bernhard Haring of the University of Wurzburg in Germany was the lead study author. He explains that the study shows that popular diets do not increase the risk of bone fractures, but the average woman should still maintain a healthy diet and active lifestyle, according to CNN.

This study builds on past studies that showed the health benefits of the diet inspired by the Mediterranean region. Past research showed that it can benefit the health of a person's heart, lungs, and brain, and also reduce risk of cancer.

In related news a recent study by Southampton University showed that drinking more coffee could reduce liver damage caused by alcohol consumption, according to USA Today. Participants who drank two extra cups of coffee every day had a 44 percent lower risk of liver cirrhosis.

Here are health benefits of the Mediterranean diet: