A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

mrwl1 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:46:38 GMT

so true!

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

Beccadog — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:11:42 GMT

More than grains are linked to diabetes. Prevailing wisdom blames Western lifestyles and diet. An alternative explanation-- contaminants interfering with glucose and insulin metabolism-- has begun to gain traction, based on studies in the lab with cells and mice, and on epidemiological research with people. These explanations are not mutually exclusive: both could be at work at the same time.

New research by Lee et al., summarized here, adds substantial weight to the hypothesis that contaminants are involved. They find a strong dose response relationship between type II diabetes risk and body burden of 6 persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Five of the 6 have highly significant associations when examined individually. The association is especially strong between diabetes risk and an estimate of the summed exposure to all 6 POPs studied simultaneously.

See: Lee, D-H, I-K Lee, K Song, M Steffes, W Toscano, BA Baker, and DR Jacobs. 2006. A Strong Dose-Response Relation Between Serum Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Diabetes. Results from the National Health and Examination Survey 1999–2002. Diabetes Care 29:1638-1644.

care.diabetesjournals.org/.../1638

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

klopstockj — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:55:53 GMT

Dr Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr, former surgeon, researcher, and clinician at the Cleveland Clinic has proven through over 20 years of testing, that the diet he recommenends will not only prevent but also reverse heart disease. It is essentially a vegan diet, absolutely no dairy or olive oil of any type. Follow this diet and you won't need any type of heart surgery. Read his book "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease"

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

mike4 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:40:50 GMT

Water fry and when done add some evoo, can't go wrong--but not too much, it's still fat.

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

joeday — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:27:36 GMT

There is nothing like a Broccoli sandwich on Italian semolina bread. Just saute the onion and garlic in xtra virgin olive oild, spinkle some Himalayan salt, and good black peper; add the broccoli and there you have it. Delicious! No need for any fish oil or any other oil. It also makes an excellent side dish without the bread.

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

curious7 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:58:26 GMT

Were we in America to eat more like the people in the Mediterranean region of the world, no doubt we would be healthier because those people eat very little in the way of processed foods, and at the same time they do consume a great deal of raw fruits and vegetables. Good olive oil, and wholesome grains. Big Business here in the US has dumbed us down to the point where we think a healthy meal comes from a box, and all you have to do is zap it with a few Microwaves. Turn off the lights, stand in front of the mirror, and you glow in the dark. Imagine that.

This is healthy living? You think?

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

ThomasT — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:27:27 GMT

As sweet moksha bliss rightfully states the Med diet is high in sat fats. Greeks daily eat much goat cheese, feta, which is very high in sat fats.Different provinces in Italy cook with goose fat, butter or lard, Spanish eat tons of fatty pork, and eggs, French cook with cream. They are also on the Med, no?? So trying to tell us that there is a Med diet, and that it is low sat fat, and that that reduces heart disease is misinformatipn.. Methinks this is the usual mainstream BS to selll olive oil, and steer you away from the facts that may make you healthy. Think about the real causes, such as tri-glycerides, homo-cysteine and lipo.protein alpha. . And then, hello, are you tuned in to new scientific breakthroughs re olive oil? Because the mainstream is NOT:. H R Clark has identified phloridzin, to be high in olive oil. This plant phenol degrades the pituatary gland so that its parts can then make up the cancer nucleus, needed to start a malignancy. These degraded parts then uncontrollably pump out human growth hormone and stem cell factor, both of which accelerate a malignancy. No i didnt make that up, and it is not junk science, only the results of the massive work Hulda R Clark, PhD ND, using her patented resonance comparator device.

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

frontporchmemories — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:17:12 GMT

Learned at the university cooking school: Olive oil has a low smoke point and thus cannot be used for frying notably deep fat frying etc.

sd in VA

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

pnorris_203 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:06:19 GMT

med123 is way off base here....regarding coconut oil, I suggest you educate yourself with the writings of Dr. Mary Enig, one of the world's formost authorities on edible oils.....and regarding his purported high smoke point of olive oil, like canola, olive oil is very fragile to heat and quickly becomes a transfat....much of what is published regarding oil smoke points is erroneous info put out by producers/vendors who want you to use volumes of their stuff for profit motives....

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

bacullen — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:05:52 GMT

The Mediterranean diet came from Dr. Ancel's observations in the early 50's and evolved into a diet religion over the years, incorporating all of the politically correct, special interest driven "healthy" information of the day. The health data Ancel used was from before WWII but the diets he observed were those of impoverished peoples following the war. Note that ALL of his health data was BEFORE UVb sun blocks and before partially hydrogenated margarine et al became part of a well known "healthy" diet.

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

med123 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:00:40 GMT

While many of the details of this article on the Mediterranean diet reflect it's cardiovascular benefits, some of the specifics should to be put into perspective.

We can agree that olive oil is highly polyunsaturated and has proven beneficial effects to raise HDL cholesterol and decrease LDL cholesterol. Its smoke point is high at 410 degrees making it resistant to oxidation. All oils oxidize and hydrolyze to some extent when heated repeatedly to very high temperatures as in commercial fryers. We shouldn't recommend fried foods anyway when trying to be more heart healthy. It is contradictory to recommend the highly 92% saturated fat coconut oil instead of the proven beneficial polyunsaturated olive oil. Saturated fats raise LDL cholesterol and decrease the healthy HDL cholesterol. Saturated fat also comes from animal products like the fat on meat, skin on poultry, and whole fat dairy products. That's why these foods are used in moderation on the Mediterranean diet. Vegetable proteins like beans are high in fiber and have no saturated fat for the exception of coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil.

Balance, variety and moderation are key to nutritional health. Look at the big picture and embrace the positive proven benefits of the Mediterranean diet as it was meant to be. If you dig deep enough you may find fault in many diets or studies. In this busy society, use your time wisely and spend it practicing the beneficial components of the Mediterranean diet instead of reading about the minuscule misconceptions in this article.

Respectfully submitted,

med123

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

JayPatrick — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:51:26 GMT

Over a 30 year period, my diet was basically Mediterranean inspired. I was healthy, got a lot of exercise, but I failed to realize that the carbos and cheeses were appetite "triggers". I just figured the cravings were caused by the lower nutrient levels of foods these days. Each year I gained around 2.5 lbs until I had gained over 75 lbs.

Last year I turned 65, and, thanks to the Internet, I learned that by eliminating the carbos and dairy products, I could be free from cravings. This diet is known as the Paleolithic diet (caveman). This may sound crazy, I am never hungry any more. I still love to eat, but I can fast without a second thought. I do model my eating consciouness on the French tradition of taking time to savor each bite, and drinking only organic red wine.

Without counting calories, or even using the scales, I have lost 85 pounds. I ride my mountain bike 10 miles a day on Sedona, Arizona's trails nearly every day. I am stronger and in better shape than I've been for years. To maintain and increase strength and endurance, I eat all the eggs, chicken, buffalo, or fish I want. I cook from scratch, too. I don't care about opinions that eggs are "dangerous" souces of colesterol, and some days I may eat up 8 of them (organic, or course). The cardiologist reports that my cardio-vascular system would be the envy of most people in their 20s.

I love my diet and being free from body fat! Well, with almost not fat on my face, my high cheekbones stand out, and my face looks a bit austere. Some people who have not seen me for a few months aren't really sure they can recognize me.

When people ask me about my diet, they nearly always tell me they love pasta and ice cream too much to give these up. For them the sacrifice just isn't worth it. However, my new diet lifestyle is so satisfying that pasta and ice cream actually jag me up too much. It takes a day or two to recover. I have developed a new way of living and it a pleasure, indeed!

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

CARLOFRANCESCO — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:05:39 GMT

Dr. Mercola,

It seems that every other day someone has a varying opinion on diets, foods and nutritional needs and it becomes very confusing to the general populace, but how is anyone suppose to find the truthful information other than blind faith.

As a very small example, on the issue of fats, if one were to have small portions of unsaturated fats such as olive oil, or walnuts, during the course of the day, it could mean a ingestion of over 40% of daily intake which by most recommendations are too high. So where do you go to find medically proven solutions to health, diet and lifestyle? (Of course, I mean other than your website.) Thank you.

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

Heather Marsh — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:28:51 GMT

I did put on a lot of weight when first introduced to Italian food- mind you, much of that may have been due to my surprised taste buds. Up until then home cooked food was a very bland experience. My then boyfriend's mother was an amazing cook.

Years later I boarded with Australian-Greek family. The kids were healthy but HUGE with wonderful skin.

re: A Strict Mediterranean Diet Offers a Big Health Boost

Islander — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:52:05 GMT

I think far too much emphasis is placed on the Mediterranean DIET and not enough on the Mediterranean LIFESTYLE. As soon as you leave the United States (and yes, this is true even of other English-speaking countries) you immediately notice the slower pace of life and laid-back attitude. Travel to a place where NO English is spoken and the difference is even more dramatic. Some Americans find this casual sense of time frustrating and speak deprecatingly of "Mexican time," "Indian time" etc. In fact, the pace of dining, like the pace of everything else in life, is relaxed and pleasant. Meals are enjoyed with conversation. Contrast that with the U.S. where we seem to make a business of inhaling our food as efficiently as possible and even multitask, eating at our desk, in front of the computer, while watching television or driving in our cars. We invented the concept of "fast food," didn't we?

I'm not disagreeing with the healthful aspects of a given diet. I'm just saying that other factors play a role as well.