St. Joseph’s/Candler primary care provider Dr. Anemaria Lutas explains this healthy eating lifestyle and its potential benefits

If you could practice a healthy eating lifestyle that could improve your heart’s health, lower your risk of stroke and potentially prevent Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and certain types of cancers, wouldn’t you at least give it a try?

It’s commonly known as the Mediterranean diet, but generally speaking it’s a diet full of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, along with beans, nuts, seeds and olive oil, explains Dr. Anemaria Lutas, primary care provider at the St. Joseph’s/Candler Primary Care office in Bluffton.

You can also include white meats, fish and other seafood, but very little to no red meat and not even meat every day. The Mediterranean diet also avoids all processed and fried foods.

Rice and pasta are rarely on the menu too. So what do you substitute? Consider trying whole grains such as farro, barley and quinoa.

“This is a diet that I recommend to my patients,” Dr. Lutas says. “The Mediterranean diet is pretty much good for anybody. Beans, peas and lentils are very common in the Mediterranean diet, but they have starches and carbohydrates so if you are diabetic, you have to consider that.”

What are the benefits to the Mediterranean diet?

There are many benefits to following this healthy eating lifestyle, especially for your heart. Studies and research have shown:

• A decrease in total cholesterol
• A decrease in triglycerides, particularly in type 2 diabetics
• Decrease risk of stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases
• Decrease risk of certain types of cancers including colorectal, prostate and breast cancers
• Decrease risk of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, according to several sources including the Alzheimer’s Society and National Library of medicine
• Improved glycemic management, especially compared to low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets
• In pregnant women, there’s a decreased risk of gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension

What about weight loss?

“That’s not only about what you eat but how many calories you are consuming and how often you exercise,” Dr. Lutas says. “Following the Mediterranean diet can help with weight loss but it needs to be in conjunction with calorie intake and exercise.”

 

Dr. Lutas is excepting new patients and can help with all your healthcare needs and questions. Request an appointment with her today.