New Study on The Benefits of Mediterranean Style Diet

05 Nov 2014 New Study on The Benefits of Mediterranean Style Diet

A new review of studies supports the use of the Mediterranean style diet to lower cardiovascular risk.

The diet consists of the following:

1. 1.   high monounsaturated/saturated fat ratio (read more olive oil, less butter, more nuts and seeds, fewer animal products),
   2.   low to moderate red wine consumption (my recommendation is 1 glass of red wine a day for women, and 1-2 a day for men),
   3.   high consumption of legumes,
   4.   high consumption of whole grains and cereals (read the WHOLE grain and/or small amounts of al dente cooked whole grain pasta),
   5.   high consumption of fruits and vegetables,
   6.   low consumption of meat and meat products and increased consumption of fish, and
   7.   moderate consumption of milk and dairy products.

The Science:

The October paper in the Cochrane review found reductions in total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as reductions in blood pressure. More comprehensive interventions (i.e. those which included more of the 7 components mentioned above) had greater effect on lipids and blood pressure.

In addition to the Japanese diet, the Mediterranean style diet is thought to be a very healthy diet. The Japanese diet tends to be difficult for Western people to adopt. I very often recommend a low glycemic index Mediterranean style diet for my patients for overall health and for weight loss. In my experience, and according to the research, this is one of the best dietary approaches in terms of reducing risks of a number of the predominant chronic health conditions of the Western world.

Our Recommendation:

Grab some sardines in olive oil and Buon Appetito!

Read More:

To learn more please visit our Holistic Wellness Program at Holistic Wellness Program.