A new study is shedding light on the health benefits of the Atlantic diet. Like the Mediterranean diet, this style of eating is based on the dietary patterns of people living in a specific region of Europe, but this one hones in on northwest Spain and northern Portugal. These populations have some of the lowest incidences of heart disease.
The most recent study in JAMA Network found that those who followed the Atlantic diet for a 6-month period had a lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a group of condition that increase risk of heart disease and diabetes.
While this research is promising, the Atlantic diet is not that well-known. But with its emphasis on eating tasty foods like bread and bringing people together for communal eating, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Atlantic diet picks up steam soon.
What is the Atlantic diet?
The Atlantic diet is the traditional diet of people from northern Portugal and Galicia in northwestern Spain. It’s full of local, fresh and whole foods — including fruit, vegetables, bread, pulses, nuts, fish and milk products.
The most common food group within the Atlantic diet is starch, such as bread, pasta, rice, cereals and other whole grains, with people consuming these six to eight times per day. The diet also includes some meat, mainly beef and pork, as well as eggs. Olive oil is a common condiment, and wine is consumed at mealtimes.
The Atlantic diet isn’t only about the types of food consumed, but it also emphasizes the style of cooking and eating. “The Atlantic diet promotes health through nutrient-rich foods and communal eating habits, utilizing traditional cooking methods like stewing to enhance nutrient absorption,” says Michelle Routhenstein, preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com.
Atlantic diet foods
The Atlantic diet prioritizes the following foods:
- Bread
- Cereals, especially whole grain
- Rice
- Pasta
- Potatoes
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Olive oil
- Milk products
- Fish and seafood
- Lean meat
- Eggs
- Pulses
- Nuts,…
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