I interviewed the author, Dario Giugliano, M.D., Ph.D, professor of Metabolic Diseases at the Second University of Naples, Italy
The Fat Contradiction
Wendy: Many people are going on low fat diets, yet the traditional Mediterranean diet is high in fat. Can people still lose or maintain weight on a Mediterranean diet?
Dr. Guigliano: For decades epidemiologists studying the dietary habits of the Mediterranean region were asking the same question: How can the peoples of a country like Crete enjoy an excellent state of health when 40% of their daily energetic requirements are met through the intake of fats?
A high fat diet is also typical of Finland, but in comparison the country maintains a high rate of coronary heart disease. It, therefore, appears that besides quantity, the quality of fats in the diet plays a determining role in one's state of health. The unifying feature of most Mediterranean populations is the broad use of olive oil as a main source of fat. This substitutes for the saturated animal fats so typical in northern European cuisine.
Saturated fats and dietary cholesterol tend to increase the levels of blood cholesterol, the polyunsaturated vegetable oils and fish oils tend to lower cholesterol, while the monounsaturated oils (olive oil) are neutral.
Additionally, as with other diets, calories must be taken into consideration. People can lose or maintain weight while on a Mediterranean diet given that the amount of calories is adjusted to reach or maintain a desirable weight.
How The Mediterranean Diet Is Different
Wendy: What makes the Mediterranean diet different from the common American diet?
Dr. Giugliano: The dietary pattern characteristic of the Mediterranean-style diet is high in fruits, vegetables, bread and other forms of cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds. It includes olive oil as an important fat source and dairy products, fish and poultry consumed in low to moderate levels; eggs consumed zero to four times weekly, and little red meat. This is not the obvious American-style diet.
It is interesting to point out that the American Heart Association recently issued a scientific advisory that a Mediterranean-style diet demonstrates impressive effects on cardiovascular disease, and that they may soon be changing the AHA Dietary Guidelines to reflect the Mediterranean diet.
Next: Mediterranean Diet Lowers Heart Disease
Red Wine and Protein Factors
About the book and author
