There is no dearth of fad diets in the world of fitness and weight management but some diets have proved their efficacy in weight loss and reducing belly fat, and one of them is the Atlantic diet. A study published in early February in JAMA Network Open has demonstrated the eating style’s effectiveness in shrinking belly fat and cutting bad cholesterol. No wonder, the diet is creating buzz over the internet for all good reasons.
What is an Atlantic diet?
The Atlantic diet is a traditional diet and it is followed in northwestern Spain and Portugal. Similar to the Mediterranean diet, the Atlantic diet emphasises on consumption of fresh and seasonal vegetables, fruits, cereals, and pulses and it stresses the local country vegetables that are harvested in the same region.
While Mediterranean food has more lentils and salads, the Atlantic diet leans towards fish, milk, and potatoes. The study published earlier this year is based on the research conducted on 200 families from the rural Spanish community. The people followed the Atlantic diet for six months and the results showed them developing metabolic syndrome compared to those who were on a regular diet.
The research also measured their waist circumference, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and fasting glucose levels – which are the five factors for metabolic syndrome. It found that the waist circumference and LDL cholesterol went down but there was not much difference in other factors. The Atlantic diet is now one of the verified diets in Spain and even the healthcare system ensures that patients with chronic diseases like diabetes, and hypertension follow this diet.
A comparison
Comparing the Atlantic diet and Mediterranean diet, the researchers said that it is very similar and instead of focusing on which is healthier, it is necessary to see the dietary pattern that best suits the population geographically.
The Atlantic diet comparatively became a diet that was known worldwide because not many diets are structured in a way keeping the important factor of geographical location in mind and most of the diets leave out the option of locally cultivated food grains and vegetables.
Tweak the Atlantic diet your way
The Atlantic diet can be followed by anyone and it can be adapted and improved according to the local produce and eating habits. Atlantic diet foods mostly contain foods that are either steamed, baked, or stewed that are available locally in the region.
