Atlantic vs. Mediterranean Diet: Which is Better?
The Mediterranean diet tells you to fill up your plate with healthy fats, fish, nuts, fruits, and veggies. It’s considered by dietitians to be one of the healthiest ways you can eat. It’s heart-healthy, can help you lose weight, and, I mean, who doesn’t want to pretend like they’re on a never-ending vacation on the Mediterranean coast?
The Mediterranean diet isn’t going anywhere; it was just named the top diet again by U.S. News and World Report. But a newcomer called the Atlantic diet, which has a few key differences, is getting buzz following a study published this month in JAMA Network Open. The research suggests you don’t have to entirely rule out meat and potatoes in order to keep your waistline, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels in check.
The Atlantic diet comes from traditional eating patterns in the Northwestern Iberian Peninsula—specifically, northwestern Spain and northern Portugal, explains Kim Yawitz, R.D., a dietitian and gym owner in St. Louis. “It’s been compared to the better-known Mediterranean diet, and for good reason,” she says. “Both diets encourage liberal consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, olive oil, nuts, and fish and allow moderate wine consumption.”
Excerpted from Delish
