More good news for the Mediterranean diet

Mar 9, 2011 11:43 AM

People eating a Mediterranean diet are less likely to end up with the metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, according to a comprehensive analysis in the March 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers reviewed 50 previous studies including more than 500,000 participants and found that people sticking to the Mediterranean diet were likely to have healthier waist circumferences and better blood pressure, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels than people who followed various different control diets, including low-carbohydrate ones.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence backing up the Mediterranean region’s eating style, which is also linked to a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as improved mental health.

Don’t get turned off by the term “diet” since the Mediterranean diet is really more a style of (tasty!) eating that focuses on produce, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein, healthy fats from olives and olive oil, moderate amounts of alcohol, and limited amounts of red meat.

So celebrate national nutrition month by taking a cue from the Greeks and fill your cart with lots of colorful fruits, veggies, lean protein, some nuts, and maybe even a bottle of red vino. (Now, that’s a diet we can all live with it!) Bonus: Take a quick walk after dinner.

—Nicole Sarrubbo

Read more about preventing diabetes and eating a heart-healthy diet.