Many people around the world are trying to lose belly fat through various methods, from rigorous exercise to surgery. However, what they need most is a careful choice of diet and determination to achieve their goal.
According to The New York Post, recent research suggests that the Atlantic Diet, a traditional eating plan in northwestern Spain and Portugal, can help individuals achieve a leaner, healthier body with improved HDL cholesterol levels.
The diet mainly includes fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, olive oil, dried fruits, milk, cheese and moderate consumption of meat.
A study published in Jama Network Open examined more than 200 families in A Estrada, Spain, from March 2014 to May 2015, where 121 families were advised to follow the Atlantic diet, while 110 continued their usual diet as a control group.
The researchers collected the participants’ food intake, physical activity, medication use and other variables.
They also measured waist circumference, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure and fasting glucose levels – five factors in metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.
23 of the 457 people who did not have metabolic syndrome at the start of the study developed it during the six-month follow-up; these patients included six who switched to the Atlantic diet and 17 who continued to follow their regular diet.
Meanwhile, of the 117 participants who met criteria for metabolic syndrome at the start of the study, 18 of the Atlantic dieters and 16 of the control group shed the label.
The researchers reported that the Atlantic diet “had no significant effect on high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or high fasting serum glucose” but improved waist circumference and HDL cholesterol levels.
“The Atlantic Diet has significant potential for improving health because of its emphasis on nutrient-dense foods and family eating patterns,” Michelle Routhenstein, a registered dietitian, told Healthline.
“By prioritizing healthy ingredients and traditional cooking methods such as steaming, this diet increases the bioavailability of nutrients and ensures that the body can better absorb and use them,” she added.
Another 2021 study found that higher adherence to the Atlantic diet was consistently associated with a lower risk of death.
