1. The Mediterranean Diet Myth or Fact
RADIA MEHALAINE, M.D.
Health Educator
Clinical Instructor

2. Another fad diet ? The Seven Countries Study
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.

3. Mediterranean Diet What is Mediterranean diet? Birthplace and origin
Incidence of Heart Disease
Question of Longevity
New fusion Culinary Trend in upscale restaurants

4. Commun Characteristics
Generous 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 meats
Low to moderate amounts of alcohol

5. Conventional Diet Pyramid

6. One Mediterranean Diet a day keeps the doctor away

7. 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

8. Healthy Heart Diet or Lifestyle?
LONGEVITY
CHILDHOOD MORBIDITY

9. Heart-Healthy Diet or Healthy Lifestyle
Not so much the diet itself, as the groups of foods it promotes.
Fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, cereals, nuts and olive oil .

10. The balance and variety of foods
Fresh Produce
Processed Meats

11. The size of servings
Eat when you are hungry
All you can eat all day

12. What color are you eating?
Multicolors, more Nutrients
One color, fried & Supersize it!!

13. Health Benefits Metabolic Syndrome
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

14. 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

15. PREDIMED STUDY
Mediterranean Diet with supplement of olive oil or mixed nuts vs Low-Fat Diet
High 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.

16. Stanford School of Medecine in California
Lowers levels of inflammation markers linked to heart disease: CRP
Anti-oxidant components in fruits and vegetables.
Painkiller action of Oleocanthal
NSAID’s action
50g of olive oil supplies 200mg of Oleocanthal

17. The HALE Project
Mediterranean Diet, Lifestyle Factors and Mortality rate in healthy elderly
11 european countries
70 – 90 year old
1988 – 2000
Mediterranean diet and Healthy lifestyle linked to 50% decrease in mortality rate from all causes.

18. Federico II University
Mediterranean vs Low-Carbohydrate Diet and effect on Postprandial Lipid Anomalies and Glucose control in Type 2 Diabetes
Mediterranean Diet Lowers Postprandial Lipemia in NIDDM.

19. 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.

20. 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.

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

22. 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’s
262 cases of Alzheimer after 5 years
Participants on Mediterranean Diet: 40% LESS

23. My living proof of the benefits of a Traditional Mediteranean Diet
Never traded her healthy
Libaneese diet for the
American Processed fast food
Her Secret: Small amounts of everything; an abundance of fruits ,vegetables and nuts,
Olive oil in everything

24. Mediterranean Diet in Extinction
Mediterranean 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.

25. American lifestyle promoted

26. New Pediatric Diseases Morbid Obesity

27. Lifestyle choice we have to make to promote Mediterranean Heritage
Healthy physical activities
I need my car

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