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The Mediterranean Diet: A Healthy Dietary Plan

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Nutrition Guide for Physicians and Related Healthcare Professions

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Abstract

The concept of a Mediterranean diet can be attributed to Ancel Keys. His insights began the study of this dietary pattern and its many variations. Components of the Mediterranean diet have been described and compared to other high-quality diets. The health benefits from the diet have been examined in four separate categories. Central adiposity was significantly less in individuals adhering to a Mediterranean diet than those with poorer adherence scores to a Mediterranean diet. Substituting different types of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat for saturated fat, red meat, or carbohydrate significantly reduced body weight. The risk of developing diabetes and the control of the disease are both improved by using a Mediterranean diet plan. In one of the most impressive studies of the Mediterranean diet, the use of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or nuts improved major adverse cardiovascular end points. The diet with extra virgin olive oil also reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation and the detrimental effect of ceramides in individuals with higher baseline values. Finally, the Mediterranean diet improved the features of the metabolic syndrome.

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Suggested Further Readings

  • Benson G, Hayes J. An update on the Mediterranean, vegetarian, and DASH eating patterns in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum. 2020;33(2):125–32. This paper compares the Mediterranean Diet with two other major dietary patterns

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  • Estruch R, Ros E, Salas-Salvadó J, Covas MI, Corella D, Arós F, Gómez-Gracia E, Ruiz-Gutiérrez V, et al. PREDIMED study investigators. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(25):e34. This paper is the classic one on the reduction in cardiovascular disease and the Mediterranean Diet

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keys A. Mediterranean diet and public health: personal reflections. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995;1(Suppl):1321S–3S. This paper provides insight into the man who was instrumental in initiating interest in this dietary pattern

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    George A. Bray & Catherine M. Champagne

Authors
  1. George A. Bray
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  2. Catherine M. Champagne
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Correspondence to George A. Bray .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Winona State University, Winona, MN, USA

    Ted Wilson

  2. Athabasca University Centre for Science, Athabasca, AB, Canada

    Norman J. Temple

  3. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    George A. Bray

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Bray, G.A., Champagne, C.M. (2022). The Mediterranean Diet: A Healthy Dietary Plan. In: Wilson, T., Temple, N.J., Bray, G.A. (eds) Nutrition Guide for Physicians and Related Healthcare Professions. Nutrition and Health. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82515-7_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82515-7_15

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