Based on foods available in countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean diet has been heralded as one of the healthiest diets in the world, primarily due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Olivia Grabowski-West, 46, a London photographer and mother of two, wanted to try the experience for six weeks. She lost weight, reduced her waistline, as well as her blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and even improved her gut microbiome. His weight loss of 1.4 kg is small, but notable, as is the loss of 5 cm in waist circumference.
Jordan Haworth, clinical physiologist at the Functional Gut Clinic, explains: “ The Mediterranean diet has many benefits for heart health, metabolic health, and gut health, contributing to a more diverse gut microbiome. »
“I felt lighter”
The mother recounted her experience over the days. In an article published by The Sunshe declares: “ Before following a Mediterranean diet, I often felt lethargic and sleepy. I wanted to lose weight, but I rarely have time to exercise because my work and family life is very hectic, and I travel a lot for work. »
A fan of mid-morning pastries, lunchtime sandwiches, hearty dinners, chips, sodas and alcoholic drinks, she has completely changed her menus. She avoided sugary processed foods and processed meat, replacing it with seafood. She replaced her milk tea with lemon water. Sparkling water has taken the place of sodas, and red wine that of spirits.
Olivia Grabowski-West favored cheeses like feta instead of cheddar, Edam and Camembert. “ I felt lighter overall and lost weight, but I wasn’t counting calories and felt like I was eating more than usual. I wasn’t hungry during this diet and looked forward to my meals ”, she said.
More energy and a luminous complexion
Very quickly after adopting the Mediterranean diet, the photographer noticed changes: “ I generally felt more energetic and less lethargic. I had a general feeling of having more energy and a smoother transit. My skin was also lighter and I looked more luminous. »
Jordan Haworth explains that the high fiber content of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds in the Mediterranean diet helps lower cholesterol, while extra virgin olive oil provides renowned antioxidants to support overall health and reduce oxidative stress.
« People who regularly follow the Mediterranean diet have lower blood pressure, but six weeks is short in terms of diet. So even if Olivia’s results are positive, following the diet longer could lower her blood pressure even more », he adds.
« Exercise, sleep and stress reduction also promote lower blood pressure ».
Source: www.topsante.com
