KEY POINTS
The Mediterranean diet has long been believed to be an effective method of weight loss. But a new study suggests that there's an even better way to lose weight: a "greener" version of theMediterranean diet.
A study published Monday in the journal Heartfoundthata "green" Mediterranean dietis the way to go for those looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle whileshedding extra pounds.Iris Shai, a co-author of the study, spoke about the difference between the new form and the old version of the diet in an email toToday.com.
The original form of the Mediterranean dietrequires ahigher dietary intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grainsand a lower intake of red meat. This is believed to be the reason why the diet has been linked to a lower riskof coronary heart disease, strokeand diabetes in various studies.
Shai and her co-authors, however, found that an even higher consumption of greenspaired with far less intake of red meat than the traditional form of the diet required were better forthe heart, reducing the cholesterol accumulated in the body.
The main message of this study is that a Mediterranean diet further restricted in red meat consumption and with a parallel increase in green-plantbased protein with high polyphenol and phytosterols content may provide greater cardiometabolic protection compared to a healthy Mediterranean diet and it will aid in reducing LDL-cholesterol," said Shai, a professor of epidemiology and public health at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel and an adjunct professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
This was especially remarkable in the unusual and significant 4% reduction in 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and a 20% regression in low-grade systemic inflammation, she continued in the email.
how to live longer plant based diet Photo: evita-ochel - Pixabay
The results of the study were obtained by randomly assigning294 sedentary and moderately obese adults into one of three dietary groups.
The first group receivedguidance on boosting physical activity as well as advice on following a healthy diet. The second group also received guidance in physical activity, plus advice on following a traditional Mediterraneandiet.
The third group received both, but with a stricter, greener Mediterraneandiet. Their daily menu consisted of 100 grams of frozen Wolffia globosa cubes thatwere taken in the form ofa green plant-based protein shake. The shake was intended to replace animal protein.
According to Shai, Wolffia globosa, also known as duckweed, has been consumed as human food for hundreds of years, mainly in Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, where it is called meat for the poor thanks to its high protein content.
After six months, data analysis revealed that participants who followedeither type of Mediterraneandiet lost more weight than the participants who only received guidelines on a healthy diet.
The ones who didn't follow either diet lost an average of 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms), with their waist circumference having shrunk by an average of 4.3 centimeters,Healthline reported. The traditional Mediterranean diet group lost 11.9 pounds (5.4 kilograms), and their waist circumference decreased by6.8 centimeters.
Meanwhile, thegreen Mediterranean diet group lost a total of 13.6 pounds (6.2 kilograms) and had an average of 8.6 centimeters taken off their waist circumference.
Weight loss isn't the only benefit one can reap when following the Meditteranean diet. Additional health benefits include a decreasein diastolic blood pressure and insulin resistance.
See the rest here:
Is 'Green' Mediterranean The Best Diet Plan For Weight Loss? - International Business Times
