an adjunct, Dr. Elie Abemayor, chief of the division of gastroenterology at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y. says.
The two diets both try to reduce inflammation, but the Mediterranean diet is more palatable, he adds.
When a patient is having more significant active inflammation, there’s some belief that following a less inflammatory diet over the short term helps people and possibly lowers the likelihood of the patient progressing to a more significant inflammatory condition and disease, Abemayor says.
“I think that, in the short term, it is beneficial. I think longer-term, whether keeping people on Mediterranean diets or putting them on the SCD diet, I don’t think that the jury’s in on that yet, but I think probably in terms of general health it’s probably a better diet for everybody to be on a Mediterranean-type diet,” Abemayor suggests.
Some research is investigating whether the gut microbiome may play a role, Abemayor says, and whether people are more likely to respond to different kinds of treatment depending on their microbiome.
“I think that’s where a lot of these treatments for gastrointestinal conditions are going to be headed, to stratify people based on genetics, based on maybe their microbiome, based on other kinds of things which separate one group from another,” Abemayor says.
What foods should you eat?
If you are interested in starting the Mediterranean diet, check with your doctor to make sure it is safe for your condition. If this diet is deemed safe, you can try this plan, which can be adjusted to meet your specific needs and preferences.
Do:
- Eat: Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, potatoes, whole grains, breads, herbs, spices, fish, seafood and extra virgin olive oil.
- Eat in moderation: Poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt.
- Eat only rarely: Red meat.
Don’t
You should avoid these foods:
- Added sugar: Soda, candies, ice cream, table sugar and many others.
- Refined grains: White bread, pasta made with refined wheat, etc.
- Trans fats: Found in margarine and various processed foods.
- Refined oils: Soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil and others.
- Processed meat: Processed sausages, hot dogs, etc.
- Highly processed foods: Anything labeled “low-fat” or “diet” or which looks like it was made in a factory.
Make sure to read labels carefully to avoid any foods that may include ingredients not listed in this diet.
It is recommended that you eat fish and seafood at least twice a week. You should use water as your go-to beverage. You may also drink coffee and tea and one glass of wine a day. You should avoid fruit juices that are high in sugar.