Study Shows Honey May Be Used as a Culinary Tool to Encourage Mediterranean-Style Diet Pattern

Results suggest Americans could better achieve a Med Diet with simple food substitutions made delicious with honey  

ERIE, Colo. , Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — A new food modeling substitution study published in Current Developments In Nutrition¹ shows how 98% of adult Americans could eat a more Mediterranean-Style Diet by making just three recipe swaps in their diet that includes honey paired with olive oil on leafy greens with fruit, on whole grains and on fish².

The Mediterranean-style Diet Pattern (MSDP), a dietary pattern recommended by the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, is abundant in whole grains, legumes, nuts, lean fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and is relatively high in fat from olive oil, while low in refined or added sugars. The MSDP has been consistently associated with lower risk for several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Although interest in the Mediterranean diet is high, study results showed that adherence to MSDP remains low among Americans.

An important factor in deciding what to eat and sticking to an eating pattern is palatability, and honey, a traditional sweetener of the Mediterranean region, can help elevate the taste of some key Mediterranean foods.

The purpose of this new study was to identify foods that, when substituted for commonly consumed American foods, would have the most impact in helping American adults who want to follow a healthy Mediterranean-style diet. This food…