A Mediterranean diet might lower the risk of contracting COVID-19, according to a study out of Indonesia. Experts conclude that “high adherence to a Mediterranean diet is a protective factor” against contracting the illness.
This news comes atop other superlatives thrown at this diet, hailed by many nutritionists as the best there is. The diet choices on offer today might overwhelm a would-be dieter: regimens like plant-based, keto, or South Florida diets are all shown to produce results. Yet, no other diet can boast blocking the notorious virus.
Seven Years of Diet Supremacy
U.S. News & World Report ranks the Mediterranean diet first place on its “Best Diets Overall 2024” review — it has held this position for seven years running. Moreover, Hollywood stars flock to express their joy at the life-extending effects, including John Goodman.
In a 2023 Rolling Stone interview, the veteran actor reveals how he was “pushing 400 pounds” at his heaviest. After beginning a crusade to get healthier in 2007, Goodman shed 100 pounds by 2015. His nutritionist and fitness coach, Mackie Shilstone, puts this down to lots of hard work and adhering to a Mediterranean diet.
Mediterranean Dietary Staples
Simply explained, the Mediterranean diet consists of the food types associated with that region, such as in Italy, Spain, or Greece. Cleveland Clinic lists some typical examples:
Extra virgin olive oil;Legumes, such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans;Whole grains like whole wheat bread;Oily fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids;Fresh yogurt;More white meat and seafood as opposed to red meat;Fewer or no sugary drinks, processed foods, and sugary snacks.
The bonus for food lovers is that this region’s diet needn’t be viewed as a “diet” per se; instead, it is a series of better choices at meal times. Business Insider journalist Jennifer Barton wrote in 2023 about how she plans to eat this way forever.
A Non-Diet
“It’s the opposite of limiting,” writes Barton. “In fact, I’m eating a more extensive range of foods than I ever have before…” Following a three-year Mediterranean diet, Barton claims it changed everything, including making her feel less bloated and giving her healthier skin.
What’s more, she guided her children into the mindset, giving them more appreciation for meal planning and new ingredients.
Why Southern Europeans Live Longer
Evidence for the Mediterranean region’s prolonged life expectancy has been with us for some time. Some countries, such as Spain and Italy, have mean life expectancies well into their eighties — higher than the world’s biggest economy, the United States.
Those with cardiovascular issues or diabetes have a good reason to study Mediterranean eating norms. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s The Nutrition Source journal published a “Diet Review,” listing proven health benefits:
Lower cardiovascular disease;A 30% smaller risk of diabetes;Longer telomere length — telomeres are parts of our DNA that shorten with age;Healthier aging patterns.
The Olive Oil Paradigm
Central to the diet is olive oil, consumed by some Europeans on a scale not seen in North American states. Hannah Broaddus gives a rundown in an article for Centra Foods on who is using the most olive oil. America doesn’t come near to Greece, whose citizens consume the most on an annual basis. Broaddus puts it more vividly: “a five-gallon bucket, all to themselves.”
Changing to olive oil could be a valid starting point for those intrigued by a Mediterranean eating regimen. By many expert testimonies, vegetable or seed oils are more harmful.
Lowering Cholesterol and Breaking Artery Plaque
A UC Davis Health article presents other qualities olive oil contains, including breaking down artery-clogging plaque. live oil is full of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which replace bad cholesterol with good cholesterol.
While Greeks may go too far for some Americans, “Good Food is Good Medicine” blog covers all the benefits of a moderate daily olive oil ration. It cites research showing how this “green gold” might lessen the threat of “chronic diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases, and heart disease.”
Even some carnivores will agree on this one. While more dedicated adherents of a protein-heavy diet will swear by rendered animal fats for cooking, other laid-back carnivores will allow it.
In the Dietary Venn Diagram
Some studies also show plant-based diets are better for warding off illnesses like COVID-19. Meanwhile, carnivore diet proponents make similar health claims — albeit for other ailments.
The carnivore movement, which also has a fast-growing discipline list is very different to the Mediterranean diet trend, though no less popular.
Perhaps in light of its anti-plant-based ethos, fewer Hollywood stories about carnivore diets make the rounds. Instead, the online influencer community has been posting videos for some time. World famous podcaster Joe Rogan and social commentator Jordan Peterson both swear by a meat-heavy eating lifestyle. The latter says a beef-only “Lion diet” changed his life.
How a Lifestyle Extended a Life
Cutting out carbohydrates and crop vegetables, which may have been sprayed with autoimmune-damaging pesticides, is the objective for carnivores. Heart Surgeon Philip Ovadia’s book Stay Off My Operating Table details the surgeon’s journey to carnivore salvation.
He went from morbidly obese and pre-diabetic to healthy, losing over 100 pounds, and blames much of his inflammatory problems on plant products. He describes “using” the carnivore diet as an anti-inflammatory elimination diet to reset his system.
Ovadia includes the Mediterranean diet in his top-five diets that helps others find the truth that would keep them alive.
