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Researchers at the University of Cincinnati say a Mediterranean diet may help people with diabetes eat foods they could never eat before.
Local 12 Medical Reporter Liz Bonis explains how in today's Medical Edge.
Andy Hajjar is a big fan of the food at his Mediterranean grill. The main ingredients on the menu?
"Vegetables, salads, extra virgin olive oil."
All things, a new study shows, he doesn't have to give up, even though Hajjar was recently diagnosed with type two diabetes.
Andy Hajjar, Andy's Mediterranean Grill: "I lost 18 pounds, so on my diet, and my goal when I first came to America, I was a young slim guy, 178 or 180, this is my goal."
Bonnie Brehm was the lead researcher in this study. It compared the traditional diet recommended for type two diabetes, which is low in fat and higher in carbohydrate or grain foods to the Mediterranean diet:
Bonnie Brehm, University of Cincinnati: "A Mediterranean diet is one that emphasizes mono-unsaturated fats, so that would be foods such as olive oil, canola oil, as well as avocados, nuts, seeds."
Her results were pretty remarkable, and if you have type two diabetes, the kind you get later in life, you may be surprised to hear, you now have more eating options than ever before. Her research showed that the Mediterranean diet had similar results overall, compared to the traditional diet for diabetes, on overall health.
"We found the same amount of weight loss, improvements in cholesterol, HDL or good cholesterol, as well as the blood sugar, insulin and Hemoglobin A-I-C levels."
Hemoglobin aic is an average measurement of sugar in the blood, which means for those such as Andy Hajjar, he now has one more reason to continue the Mediterranean menu in moderation. Previous studies have also shown the Mediterranean diet is good for reducing heart disease and alzheimer's risk.
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