Getting Philosophical on the Mediterranean Diet

I did it again.  I bought another diet and nutrition book...which I happen to need like a hole in the head.  I wouldn't have bought the thing at all (I'm pretty sure I've got the subtle nuances of most major eating regimens down pat), but when I was scanning the pages in the store, I saw a section on the mineral phosphorous and thought this book might be more well-written and more in-depth than most.  Maybe this book would hold the key to simplify everything and will tell us all how to live to be 100 years old and fit as a fiddle the whole time.

But alas, it was just a typical overly-excited effort to convert others to some whack-a-doo regimen backed by the fuzziest excuse for nutritional science that the author sees as an inarguable truism.

What would make a really good diet book for me?  I want to see long-term studies.  I want some semblance of mortality data.  I want a real control group.  And for sure, I want less proselytizing.

Most doctors will admit it.  Even they cannot make a definitive mandate on what diet is the absolute best for general overall wellness and longevity.

Docs admit that a very low fat diet (the kind we all embraced in the 1980s) can yield respectable weight loss results and positive indicators for cardiovascular health...if a dieter can stick to it.  But we've all learned over time that with a very low level of fat, satiety is not always there for the dieter.  If, in an effort to feel satisfied, they down a whole pot of rice instead of the half cup portion allotted to them, a dieter can actually gain weight on a low-fat regimen.

Well, then, how about those high protein/low carb diets like Atkins or these new Paleo programs?  Aside from very low calorie liquid semi-fasts,  high protein/low carb diets are probably the quickest route to rapid weight loss.  But they may not be the optimal choice for dieters trying to correct a negative trend in their cardiovascular health or those on diabetes medication.  And sooner or later, someone is going to offer the dieter a piece of birthday cake which is going to instantly erase that arduous journey into ketosis.  This is another program that is tough to stick to for the rest of your days.

What about hardcore veganism, like the Engine 2 Diet?  It looks very compelling for cardiovascular health and it is gaining popularity...but it may not be so great for joint and bone health, and the average omnivore can't seem to make the conversion to a world with zero animal byproducts.

Gluten-free?  This regimen is an absolute necessity for someone with celiac sprue and it is  probably a desirable diet for someone who suffers from IBS, Crohn's, leaky gut syndrome or some other chronic gastro-intestinal disorder, but this diet is not necessarily designed for the average joe looking to shape up their general wellness. 

What about this Mediterranean Diet that is getting so much hype?  The Mediterranean Diet, which should read like an exercise in semi-vegetarianism, often gets misinterpreted by the average omnivore as a steady diet of chicken and turkey.  Actually, in a perfect world, the follower of a Mediterranean Diet would lean a little harder into the realm of vegetarian and seafood meals. Mediterranean Dieters also need to eschew white flour, bakery products, sugary sweets, and sweet drinks.   The medical world is excited about this diet because they feel it is sustainable...that even non-health-nut-type people can stick to it on a permanent basis and that it could therefore improve the face of public health (which really needs an overhaul as it pertains to diet-related disorders).

I agree that overall, the Mediterranean Diet looks pretty good:  The dieter gets all of the wonderful health-sustaining benefits of plant-based foods, steers clear of the atherosclerosis-causing microbiota found in red meat, stays full for longer than 10 minutes (since there is a nice film of olive oil in the tum-tum), can still eat some animal protein to blend in with the regular folk at a dinner party, and can be sociable and drink a toast  of red wine with the gang if they choose to indulge in that sort of thing.

I also happen to like the Mediterranean Diet because in addition to looking pretty nutritionally well-rounded,  it's just kind of how I choose to live my life and eat anyway (so I'm sure my tender ego feels vindicated in some way.)  But that's about all I know for sure.  In fact, I think that's about all that the "experts" know for sure, too.

Is the Mediterranean diet the key to being trim?  Maybe...maybe not.  Is it a way to prevent or reverse chronic disease? Maybe...maybe not.  Is it the key to a long life?  Maybe...maybe not.  Whether we follow the Mediterranean Diet or some other program that we think is good, does eating intelligently give us any guarantees?  Not really.  Even at the 8th Annual Obesity Summit at the Cleveland Clinic, the doctors were somewhat divided on the best program and there is very little data on mortality rates as it pertains to specific diets.

Whether you try the Mediterranean Diet, Veganism, Low Fat, High-Protein/Low-Carb, Gluten-free, or any of the myriad dietary plans out there, you may find you reap some short-term benefits.  And you may like the short-term benefits so much that you stick with the plan long-term.  But are you never ever going to have any cardiovascualr problems?  Sorry, no guarantees.  Will you never ever contract cancer?  Sorry, no guarantees. Will you be strong, mobile, and quick-witted as you approach your hundredth birthday? Sorry, no guarantees.

The only guarantee we have is today.  So just make wholesome food choices that make you feel clean, strong, and energized today.  Use that strength and energy to make it a great day that you are glad to be a part of.  And maybe you can use that strength and energy to something good for someone else out there, too.  Then get up and do it again tomorrow.  That effort to get the most out of each day is the only guarantee of a good diet, so I hope you find the plan that makes you feel that way.