Our diet is often influenced by the products available in the region where we live and by the climate there. Thus, in cold regions, we may tend to prepare more substantial hot dishes, while in hot regions, we may eat more lighter cold dishes. A recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Openwas interested in the health benefits of a very specific diet: the Atlantic regime, which takes its name from the eating style shared by the coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, namely Portugal, Spain, France and England.
In this study, Spanish scientists studied the effect of this regime on the environment and health, and in particular on the incidence of metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is defined by a large waist circumference, associated with at least two following disorders: hyperglycemia, namely excess sugar in the blood, a high triglyceride level, a low HDL cholesterol level, in other words “good “cholesterol, as well as hypertension, as indicated by Inserm. “All of these metabolic disorders significantly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke (stroke)”it is specified on the website of the French Federation of Cardiology.
Atlantic diet: healthy eating habits, close to the Mediterranean diet
The Atlantic diet involves eating local, minimally processed, seasonal foods such as fish and seafood, fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, starchy foods, and coconut oil. olive. It is close to the Mediterranean diet, but the foods that compose it are more in the form of stews or baking, as required by the culinary traditions of the coastal regions of the Atlantic Ocean.
To carry out this study, the researchers examined for six months the diets of 250 families of Spanish origin. They then asked 126 families not to change their diet and to cook according to the traditions of their region, while the remaining 124 families had to adapt their diet to the Atlantic diet. The dieticians therefore suggested that they consume as many local and minimally processed products as possible.
For the volunteers in this group, the goal was to change their eating habits without restricting their energy intake and to adapt the recommendations to individual preferences and nutritional needs. To help them change their eating habits, this same group was able to attend nutritional education sessions as well as cooking classes. He also received traditional food baskets.
What are the effects of the Atlantic diet on metabolic syndrome?
Concerning the impact of the Atlantic regime on the environment, the analysis showed that the two groups of families both experienced a reduction in carbon footprint scores, with no significant difference.
What does the study say about the health effects of this diet? After analyzing the data from each group, the results showed “that a traditional Atlantic dietary intervention significantly reduced the incidence of metabolic syndrome” indicate the researchers.
Indeed, the group that changed its eating habits had a reduced risk of obesity and LDL cholesterol, nicknamed “bad” cholesterol. Their waist circumference also decreased significantly and they were about 42% less likely to have a symptom of metabolic syndrome.
“The Atlantic diet is particularly beneficial for cardiometabolic health, as this research indicates improvement in risk factors such as high LDL cholesterol levels and better weight management, ultimately reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome”notably commented in the columns of the American media Today Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian who was not involved in the study.
Sources:
- Traditional Atlantic Diet and Its Effect on Health and the Environment, JAMA Network Open, February 7, 2024
- Inserm – What is metabolic syndrome?
- French Federation of Cardiology – Focus on metabolic syndrome
- The Atlantic diet is the new rival to the Mediterranean diet. Which one is better for you?, Today, February 12, 2024