An international study led by Ben-Gurion University says a Green Mediterranean diet rich in leafy greens, green tea, walnuts, and the aquatic plant Mankai may do more than improve standard health markers. Published June 23, 2026 in Clinical Nutrition, the research found the diet raised blood folate levels sharply and was linked to better blood sugar control, lower inflammation, improved blood lipids, and reduced liver and abdominal fat.
The study followed about 300 participants who adopted the Green Mediterranean pattern, which also reduced red and processed meat intake. Their folate levels rose more than those of people on a traditional Mediterranean diet or a standard healthy diet. The researchers say this increase was not just a sign of eating more greens, but appeared to activate a key metabolic pathway involved in gene regulation and cellular function.
The team focused on a common variant of the MTHFR gene, rs1801133, especially the TT form, which can cut the enzyme’s activity by 50% to 60%. People carrying this version usually start with lower folate levels, and in the study TT carriers who did not eat Mankai saw their cardiovascular risk score rise. When they added the Green Mediterranean diet, their heart-risk score dropped sharply. Blood tests showed altered gene expression, with alternative pathways compensating for the inherited enzyme weakness.
Lead researcher Prof. Iris Shai said folate could now be considered a key biomarker in routine blood tests, not only for detecting anemia or severe deficiency. Dr. Hila Zelekha Pahar said the findings suggest food quality, especially folate-rich foods with high bioavailability such as Mankai, can affect biological pathways that help cells adapt and may blunt certain genetic risk factors. The paper also included researchers from Soroka Medical Center, Leipzig University, and Harvard University.
