Atlantic diet can help you achieve leaner physique: study

Many people worldwide are striving to lose belly fat through various methods, from rigorous exercise to surgeries. Still, what they need the most are mindful dietary choices 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 meat consumption.

A study published in Jama Network Open surveyed over 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.

Researchers collected participants' dietary intake, physical activity, medication use, and other variables.

They also measured their waist circumference, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and fasting glucose levels — the five factors for metabolic syndrome which is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke.

Twenty-three of the 457 people who didn't have metabolic syndrome at the beginning of the study developed it over 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, from the 117 participants who met the criteria for metabolic syndrome at the start of the study, 18 of the Atlantic dieters and 16 in the control group shed that label.

The researchers reported that the Atlantic diet "had no significant effect on high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, or high fasting serum glucose levels," but bettered waist circumference and HDL cholesterol levels.

"The Atlantic Diet presents significant potential for enhancing health due to its emphasis on nutrient-dense foods and family-oriented eating habits," Michelle Routhenstein, a registered dietitian nutritionist, told Healthline.

"By prioritising wholesome ingredients and traditional cooking methods such as stewing, this diet enhances the bioavailability of nutrients, ensuring that the body can better absorb and utilise them," she added.

Another 2021 study found that higher adherence to the Atlantic diet was consistently associated with a lower risk of death.