While there are many different diets that are healthy, this is one that has the most evidence that it can lower the risk of chronic disease for entire populations. Thousands of research studies on this eating pattern show that if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, overweight, obesity, diabetes, certain cancers, Metabolic Syndrome, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and many age-related conditions, as well as improve fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and long-term vitality you should follow a Mediterranean style of eating and living. One reason why so many people improve their health by embracing the Mediterranean lifestyle is that it is simple and easy to adhere to; the eating plan is flexible and varied, the food tastes good, and eating enjoyment is one of the key principles. Flexibility, ease, and pleasure are crucial for your long-term success!

Eating to control blood sugar is an important strategy for everyone, especially if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Choosing the best minimally processed foods and creating balanced meals and snacks is a recipe for better blood sugar control, long-term health, and disease prevention. Finding the right types and balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat can help you feel better, as well as enhance mood, energy, satiety, and meal enjoyment. It can feel overwhelming if you’re just getting started with this approach, but don’t stress! Our dietitian is available to help you make the upgrades you need to get your blood sugar into a healthier range.

Emphasizing plants is always a good thing. At Gelson’s we believe that healthy eating is flexible eating. We’re here to support you all along the continuum of plant-based eating from flexitarian (flexible vegetarian), to pescatarian, to lacto-ovo-vegetarian, to vegan. We’re partial to flexitarian since it emphasizes an overall healthy eating pattern of mostly plants but doesn’t exclude anything (because once in a while you may crave a juicy hamburger or you might want to have some turkey on Thanksgiving). The Mediterranean Diet is a plant-based flexitarian eating pattern, but it can be modified to exclude any animal foods you seek to avoid.

We understand that some people’s healthy diets need to exclude certain ingredients, such as gluten, dairy, wheat, nuts, shellfish, and other foods due to allergies, sensitivities, or certain medical conditions. We have many helpful shelf tags that can help guide you to these types of products, as well as a dietitian who can make personalized recommendations based on your unique needs.