RADIA MEHALAINE, M.D.Health Educator

Clinical Instructor

Another fad diet ?

American Heart Association

Lyon Diet Heart Study

50%-70% less coronary events

Alpha-Linolenic Acid?Linoleic Acid?

The Seven Countries Study

Cretan Diet: lowest incidence of heart disease.

Finland Diet: highest rate of coronary events.

Mediterranean Diet

What is Mediterranean diet?Birthplace and originIncidence of Heart DiseaseQuestion of LongevityNew fusion Culinary Trend in upscale

restaurants

Commun CharacteristicsGenerous amount of fruits, vegetables and

whole grains. Small portions of nuts and seeds.Healthy fats such as olive oil.Moderate amounts of dairy products, poultry

and fish on a regular basis.Little amounts of red and processed meatsLow to moderate amounts of alcohol

Conventional Diet Pyramid

One Mediterranean Diet a day keeps the doctor away

Mediterranean vs industrialized diet• Olive oil• Greens• Fresh fruits• No corn• Raw, lightly cooked• Unprocessed• Natural flavors• Fish• Some dairy

products/Goat milk

• Other oils/ Trans fats• Fries, Potatoes,

Fries…• Canned fruits• Corn, Corn, Corn….• Charred, Deep fried• Highly processed• Artificial flavors,

colors, sweeteners• Redmeat• High dairy/ Cow milk

Healthy Heart Diet or Lifestyle? LONGEVITY CHILDHOOD

MORBIDITY

Heart-Healthy Diet or Healthy LifestyleNot so much the diet itself, as the groups of

foods it promotes. Fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, cereals,

nuts and olive oil .

The balance and variety of foods

Fresh Produce Processed Meats

The size of servings

Eat when you are hungry All you can eat all day

What color are you eating? Multicolors, more Nutrients

One color, fried & Supersize it!!

Health Benefits•

Research has scientifically proven the many health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.

It has been proven that the Mediterranean Diet helps reduce the risk of:

• Metabolic Syndrome• Coronary heart disease: decreases LDL and increases HDL• Hypertension• Cancers• Stroke • Diabetes• Alzheimer’s disease

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Clinical trials

CLINICAL STUDIES• PREDIMED Study• Stanford School of Medecine in California• Northwestern University Feinberg School of

Medicine in Chicago• The Hale Project• Emory University Study• Second University of Naples• Federico II University• Maris Study/Wagening University• University of Michigan• Walter Reed Army Medical Center

PREDIMED STUDYMediterranean Diet with supplement of olive

oil or mixed nuts vs Low-Fat DietHigh cardiovascular risk In the absence of weight loss or increase in

physical activity. Mediterranean diet beats Low-Fat diet in

lowering heart disease risk (BP, LDL, BS) after 3 months.

Stanford School of Medecine in CaliforniaLowers levels of inflammation markers linked

to heart disease: CRPAnti-oxidant components in fruits and

vegetables.Painkiller action of OleocanthalNSAID’s action50g of olive oil supplies 200mg of

Oleocanthal

The HALE ProjectMediterranean Diet, Lifestyle Factors and

Mortality rate in healthy elderly11 european countries70 – 90 year old1988 – 2000Mediterranean diet and Healthy lifestyle

linked to 50% decrease in mortality rate from all causes.

Federico II UniversityMediterranean vs Low-Carbohydrate Diet

and effect on Postprandial Lipid Anomalies and Glucose control in Type 2 Diabetes

Mediterranean Diet Lowers Postprandial Lipemia in NIDDM.

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Minnesota Breast Cancer Family Study

It ‘s in the Olive Oil

Oleic acid in Olive oil blocks the action of a cancer causing oncogene- HER-2/neu.

Second University of Naples

Second University of Naples

Effect of a Mediterranean Diet on patients diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome but without cardiovascular disease or other risk factors.

MARIS STUDY

Effects of MUFA and Medirerranean Diet on Hyperinsulinemia and other components of the Metabolic Syndrome.

Alzheimer’s Disease(WebMD) New research links a

Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, cereals, and olive oil to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular Dementia.

2250 older New Yorkers in their 70’s262 cases of Alzheimer after 5 yearsParticipants on Mediterranean Diet: 40%

LESS

My living proof of the benefits of a Traditional Mediteranean Diet

Never traded her healthy Libaneese diet for the American Processed fast foodHer Secret: Small amounts of everything; an abundance of fruits ,vegetables and nuts,Olive oil in everything

Mediterranean Diet in ExtinctionMediterranean countries succumbs to

American diet of fast foods and trans fats.The region’s diet had « decayed into a

moribund state »Childhood obesity, diabetes, HBP, High

Cholesterol.Metabolic Syndrome and heart disease.

American lifestyle promoted

New Pediatric DiseasesMorbid Obesity

Lifestyle choice we have to make to promote Mediterranean HeritageHealthy physical activities

I need my car

Lifestyle choice we have to make to save our children Longevity Morbid Obesity