Atlantic diet can help you get leaner: study

Many people around the world try to lose belly fat through various methods, from rigorous exercise to surgical procedures. However, what they need most is careful food choices and determination to achieve their goal.

According The New York PostRecent research suggests that the Atlantic diet, a traditional eating plan in northwestern Spain and Portugal, can help people achieve a leaner, healthier body with improved HDL cholesterol levels.

The diet includes mainly fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, olive oil, dried fruits, milk, cheese and moderate consumption of meat.

A study published in Jama Network Open surveyed more than 200 families in A Estrada, Spain from March 2014 to May 2015, where 121 families were advised to follow the Atlantic diet, while 110 continued their usual diet as a control group.

The researchers collected the participants’ dietary intake, physical activity, medication use and other variables.

They also measured their waist circumference, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure and fasting glucose levels – the five factors for metabolic syndrome which is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke .

Twenty-three of the 457 subjects who did not have metabolic syndrome at the start of the study developed it during the six-month follow-up. These patients included six who switched to the Atlantic diet and 17 who continued on their normal diet.

Meanwhile, of the 117 participants who met criteria for metabolic syndrome at the start of the study, 18 of the Atlantic dieters and 16 in the control group rejected that label.

The researchers reported that the Atlantic diet “had no significant effect on high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or high fasting serum glucose,” but did improve waist circumference and HDL cholesterol levels.

“The Atlantic diet has significant health-promoting potential because of its emphasis on nutrient-dense foods and family eating habits,” said Michelle Routhenstein, registered dietitian nutritionist. Healthline.

“By prioritizing healthy ingredients and traditional cooking methods such as stewing, this diet enhances the bioavailability of nutrients, ensuring the body can absorb and use them better,” he added.

Another 2021 study found that higher adherence to the Atlantic diet was consistently associated with a lower risk of death.