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Comments on: Mediterranean Diet + Nuts = Reversal of Metabolic Syndrome http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/ Ruminations on Weight Loss, Health, and Longevity Via the Mediterranean Diet Fri, 18 May 2012 08:00:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: darya http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-531 darya Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:56:32 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-531 doesn't the mediterranean diet already include a lot of nuts? and also, 1 liter of extra olive oil per week in one of the intervention groups????? does that seem insane to anyone but me? doesn’t the mediterranean diet already include a lot of nuts?

and also, 1 liter of extra olive oil per week in one of the intervention groups????? does that seem insane to anyone but me?

]]> By: Steve Parker, M.D. http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-548 Steve Parker, M.D. Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:23:06 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-548 Very perceptive, Darya. Thanks for your comments. The traditional Mediterranean diet indeed includes 'generous amounts' of nuts, and olive oil as the predominant form of dietary fat. I'm sure consumption of the two components varied across the region, perhaps dramatically. The PREDIMED researchers are trying to quantify a specific amount of these two foods that confer the health benefits, if any. Proponents of the Mediterranean diet can easily toss off a recommendation to "start eating nuts" or "eat more nuts." Health conscious people need a more specific recommendation, especially since nuts can be fattening if eaten to excess. The medical literature had already established that the heart-healthy amount of nut consumption is at least three to five 1-ounce servings of nuts weekly. An ounce is about a quarter cup, or 28.35 grams. Hey, I just figured out why these researchers chose 30 grams as their nut supplement! Regarding the liter per week of olive oil.... That's 8079 calories, or over 1000 calories daily for an individual! I bet that liter was for household consumption. I don't know average household size in Spain. If we assume it is four, then average individual intake would be 288 cals daily, or 2.3 tablespoons. Much more reasonable, eh? I think olive oil does confer health benefits. In my Advanced Mediterranean Diet book (for weight loss), I felt compelled to recommend a specific amount of intake to my readers: seven to 14 tablespoons weekly during the weight-loss phase of weight management. A little more as one enters the "maintenance of weight loss" phase. So, I'm in line with these researchers. Again, I'm not sure it's helpful to just tell someone, "Eat more olive oil." Truth is, it's not entirely clear what is the optimal amount of olive oil for health. The PREDIMED study will help clarify this. It's a huge study, with final reports due in 2010 or 2011. -Steve Very perceptive, Darya. Thanks for your comments.

The traditional Mediterranean diet indeed includes ‘generous amounts’ of nuts, and olive oil as the predominant form of dietary fat. I’m sure consumption of the two components varied across the region, perhaps dramatically.

The PREDIMED researchers are trying to quantify a specific amount of these two foods that confer the health benefits, if any. Proponents of the Mediterranean diet can easily toss off a recommendation to “start eating nuts” or “eat more nuts.” Health conscious people need a more specific recommendation, especially since nuts can be fattening if eaten to excess.

The medical literature had already established that the heart-healthy amount of nut consumption is at least three to five 1-ounce servings of nuts weekly. An ounce is about a quarter cup, or 28.35 grams. Hey, I just figured out why these researchers chose 30 grams as their nut supplement!

Regarding the liter per week of olive oil…. That’s 8079 calories, or over 1000 calories daily for an individual! I bet that liter was for household consumption. I don’t know average household size in Spain. If we assume it is four, then average individual intake would be 288 cals daily, or 2.3 tablespoons. Much more reasonable, eh?

I think olive oil does confer health benefits. In my Advanced Mediterranean Diet book (for weight loss), I felt compelled to recommend a specific amount of intake to my readers: seven to 14 tablespoons weekly during the weight-loss phase of weight management. A little more as one enters the “maintenance of weight loss” phase. So, I’m in line with these researchers.

Again, I’m not sure it’s helpful to just tell someone, “Eat more olive oil.”

Truth is, it’s not entirely clear what is the optimal amount of olive oil for health. The PREDIMED study will help clarify this. It’s a huge study, with final reports due in 2010 or 2011.

-Steve

]]> By: tom bri http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-549 tom bri Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:24:45 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-549 As for the lack of prevention vs the reducing of metabolic syndrome, my guess would be simple odds. Any study where several different things are being measured in a complex system like an animal body the results will be mixed. That is why we like to see studies repeated over and over, to even out mere chance as a factor. It does seem odd to me that low-fat is used as the control. Low fat is a pretty severe change in most people's diets. A more useful control would be something closer to the norm, 30-40% fat calories. As for the lack of prevention vs the reducing of metabolic syndrome, my guess would be simple odds. Any study where several different things are being measured in a complex system like an animal body the results will be mixed. That is why we like to see studies repeated over and over, to even out mere chance as a factor.

It does seem odd to me that low-fat is used as the control. Low fat is a pretty severe change in most people’s diets. A more useful control would be something closer to the norm, 30-40% fat calories.

]]> By: Steve Parker, M.D. http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-551 Steve Parker, M.D. Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:37:33 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-551 Thanks for you comments, tom. You may be right. -Steve Thanks for you comments, tom. You may be right.

-Steve

]]> By: Shayne van Rensburg http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-8606 Shayne van Rensburg Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:58:00 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-8606 I recommend this way of eating for many clients who come to me for health advice - all notice a change in the way they feel. Feeling good = better health. A big issue for me is the fact that getting people to eat the right stuff means they have no space left over for the wrong stuff. And I agree with the 2 Tabelespoons of Oilive Oil a day but that is total intake ie in cooking and as a dressing on cold or hot veg or even on cereal. The nuts are a fantastic way to boost essential fatty acids, get good quality protein and provide the feeling of snacking without the fat and poor nutrition normally associated with snacking. Finally we are talking about raw unsalted preferrably straight out of the shell nuts here, not roasted bar nuts!! Thanks for the blog. I recommend this way of eating for many clients who come to me for health advice - all notice a change in the way they feel. Feeling good = better health. A big issue for me is the fact that getting people to eat the right stuff means they have no space left over for the wrong stuff. And I agree with the 2 Tabelespoons of Oilive Oil a day but that is total intake ie in cooking and as a dressing on cold or hot veg or even on cereal. The nuts are a fantastic way to boost essential fatty acids, get good quality protein and provide the feeling of snacking without the fat and poor nutrition normally associated with snacking. Finally we are talking about raw unsalted preferrably straight out of the shell nuts here, not roasted bar nuts!! Thanks for the blog.

]]> By: Steve Parker, M.D. http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-9038 Steve Parker, M.D. Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:41:00 +0000 http://advancedmediterraneandiet.com/blog/2008/12/09/mediterranean-diet-nuts-reversal-of-metabolic-syndrome/#comment-9038 Thanks for your comments, Shayne. Thanks for your comments, Shayne.

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