Mediterranean diet more than just tasty

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - A new study says a Mediterranean-inspired diet can help you lose weight and stay healthy.  Researchers say this type of food is still relevant centuries later and can prevent disease.  

“I like the mixture of fruits and sauces, I find it really good,” said Donna Witmer of Amherst.

From hummus to stuffed grape leaves, Mediterranean food is not only tasty but good for you.  In a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, University of Barcelona researchers said following this type of diet can cut your chances of developing heart disease.

“It makes sense. I think American culture we kind of have our ideas of what food is supposed to be healthy and what's not.  And there are other types of cultures that have been eating other types of food for a long time,” said Dan Finklestein of Amherst.  

Reza Rahmani is the head chef and owner at Moti in Amherst.  He told 22News it all boils down to how you prepare the food.

“We dash up cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice; things like vinegar and lemon juice break fats in your body. We cook our meats, we marinate them in things such saffron and olive oil and yogurt,” said Rahmani inside his North Pleasant Street restaurant.

For five years, researchers followed nearly 7,500 people in Spain, ages 55 to 80. Half had diabetes and most had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Participants were asked to follow a low fat diet or a Mediterranean diet filled with fresh foods like beans, tomatoes, salads and fruits. 

By the end of the study those who followed the Mediterranean diet had a 30 percent lower risk of developing heart problems.

Rahmani says using spices like saffron and herbs to give off flavor, instead of salt, and cooking on an open flame can also help burn the fat.

“If you cook something in a pan everything gets right back into the meat itself. When you cook things on an open flame it burns and drains all the bad stuff and what you are eating is a healthy piece of chicken and healthy piece of steak,” said Rahmani. 

Researchers say the diet can be more effective than cholesterol lowering medications.