A new diet that has been creating quite a buzz in town— the Southern European Traditional Atlantic Diet or Atlantic Diet—is said to topple over the Mediterranean diet and become the new benchmark for health and well-being. And this news was enough for us to dig deep and decode whether this new diet would truly turn out to be a miracle or just another fad diet that would soon get chucked away.
A recent publication in JAMA Network Open presented findings from a study examining the effects of the Atlantic diet on 250 families (574 participants) in A Estrada, Spain, conducted from 3 March 2014 to 29 May 2015. The research indicated that adhering to a consistent traditional Atlantic diet had the potential to improve conditions related to metabolic syndrome. This improvement is crucial as metabolic syndrome is known to contribute to adverse health outcomes such as stroke, heart attack and other serious conditions.
“The Atlantic diet is very similar to the Mediterranean diet, with just a few minor tweaks. Both diets are extremely similar in inculcating and fostering a sense of community and social building, and they are noted for encouraging family meals that enhance and foster quality well-being. While both diets embrace fresh produce, seafood and the use of olive oil and whole grains, what makes the Atlantic diet differ is its emphasis on more consumption of red meat and starch like potatoes,” says Sudeshna Maitra Nag, clinical nutritionist and chief dietician at The Peerless Hospital, Kolkata.
The eating pattern of the Mediterranean diet follows meals that have been designed mostly around plant foods, the use of olive oil, and a moderate intake of dairy, seafood, and alcohol. It is very much influenced by the dietary patterns of individuals living along the Mediterranean Sea coast and encompasses healthy fats and other rich nutrients. While the Atlantic diet mainly defines the traditional eating patterns of individuals residing in northwest Spain and Portugal, for both, the preparation of food mainly focuses on methods like steaming, boiling, and grilling.
Are there any drawbacks to both diets? Talking to The Statesman, Sudeshna Maitra Nag pointed out that the Mediterranean diet’s low consumption of dairy products may result in calcium and iron deficiencies if meal planning is not conducted with care. “One drawback of the Atlantic diet would be the consumption of red meat and alcohol,” she adds. Increased intake of red meat is often associated with the risks of type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, and obesity. However, according to the research that was conducted and analyzed by JAMA Network Open, the participants were advised to consume lean meat cuts, which had the least fat content. At the same time, alcohol intake is associated with liver disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and even cancer. According to her, “People should be conscious when it comes to limiting their consumption of both.”
Now, here’s the question that springs to mind: Is this trending new Atlantic diet truly suitable for the Indian population? The esteemed nutritionist observes that following the Mediterranean diet is not about following each principle verbatim; rather, it’s about deciphering and relying on broader principles. “Indian body composition and our eating patterns are completely different from those of individuals residing along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. The study needs to be conducted based on the Indian pool to really understand how beneficial it is.”
Modifications must be made, and for that, consulting a nutritionist is essential. For example, Mediterranean and Atlantic diets both emphasise the essentiality of olive oil; however, olive oil is not suitable for the Indian cooking pattern. Olive oil has a smoking point of 190 degrees Celsius, and when used for deep-frying fish for curries or other preparations, the nutrient composition of olive oil gets completely destroyed. On the other hand, mustard oil has a smoking point of 250 degrees Celsius, which is extremely suitable for Indian cooking and healthy too.
“Availability of products plays a major role in how sufficient a diet or eating style is. So when starting any new diet, your health needs should be your ultimate priority,” nutritionist Nag concludes.