A Mediterranean Diet, which is based in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and less refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, is much like that of a general healthy diet prescribed by physicians and nutritionists alike. According to Dr. Helen Delichatsios, Internal Medicine Physician at Mass General Hospital and Director of Nutrition Education at Harvard Medical School, a Mediterranean-style diet is known to improve hearth health and help with weight control.
“Studies looking at a Mediterranean pattern diet have shown that people from certain countries had lower risk of heart disease and overall death,” explains Delichatsios. “And if you have a diet that’s heavy in plants and fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains, you can eat more volume and therefore feel fulller with fewer calories.”
But she notes, “With any weight loss program you also have to look at portion control—so it’s not just the food choices but the amounts of food that you eat.”