I recently saw a young, delightful gentleman, who was in perfect health — except for a sky-high coronary calcium score (an indicator of severe coronary artery disease). He was fully medicated with all of the correct medications and his lipid values were enviable. He exercised 45 minutes five days a week. He had never smoked.
We got into an energetic discussion about the best diet for him. He was following an American Heart Association diet that emphasized low fat, low carb, fish (he ate salmon but preferred fresh water fish like tilapia and walleye), a couple of vegetables and fruits, a whole grain cereal every morning, and 2 glasses of red wine a day.
Thinking of the Lyon Heart Study
here,
here (look at the graph on slide 3), and
here, I proposed that a Mediterranean diet would be healthier. This diet, nicely described in this
Wikipedia article, and
the Old Ways Web site emphasizes olive oil, deep water fish, legumes, fruits and veggies, and nuts; while de-emphasizing saturated and omega 6 fats, and processed foods.
The articles all support the healthful benefits of this diet, and conclude with requests or suggestions for more research on the topic. I agree. And until then, I will continue to promote the Mediterranean diet. Stay tuned because the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet will be a major topic of this blog.
My dinner tonight was two handfuls of nuts as an appetizer, pork tenderloin sauteed in olive oil, green beans with rosemary dressed lightly with olive oil, a salad of mixed greens dressed with, you guessed it, olive oil and apple cider vinegar, red wine to drink, and a pear claufoti for dessert. Something like sauteed monk fish would have been better, but I did pretty well.
Eat well to stay well.
Dr. Bob Gleeson