Mediterranean diet: Doctor shares tasty recipes to help slimmers ‘maintain healthy weight’

Dr. Poole often shares his extensive knowledge with others, explaining and celebrating Mediterranean ingredients that he says “add years to your life.” Entitled The Real Mediterranean Diet, the doctor has recently published a book containing all the information dieters need to start following the Mediterranean diet, including many easy and tasty recipes for them to try at home.

Speaking about the Mediterranean diet with Express.co.uk, Dr Poole outlined its benefits, saying it is advantageous for weightloss and general health.

He said the diet “wonderfully puts you in a position where it helps you lose weight, it helps you maintain a normal weight, but it also protects you from chronic disease as you age.”

The secret to the Mediterranean diet, according to Dr. Poole, is that “processed foods are very limited in the diet and full of low glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates, which is really good.”

“When people talk about low-carb diets, what they’re really talking about is low-GI carbs,” the doctor explained.

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The GI rates carbohydrates according to how quickly they raise blood glucose.

Low GI foods prolong digestion due to their slow breakdown, which can help people feel full longer and consequently lose weight.

Examples of low GI ingredients include soy products, beans, fruits, vegetables, milk, pasta, porridge, lentils and, Dr. Poole explained, whole grains, such as whole wheat bread and brown rice.

All these foods are part of the Mediterranean diet, as well as “fats, which are good fats, and especially extra virgin olive oil.”

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In his book, Dr. Poole goes into more detail about the science behind the Mediterranean diet and also explains how it is not just a diet, but also a lifestyle.

In Mediterranean countries, a large part of the culture is to eat at the table, slowly, as a family.

This, according to Dr. Poole, also contributes to weight loss, as eating slowly slows down digestion and consequently makes people feel full for longer.

Below, Express.co.uk have chosen our favorite recipes from Dr Poole’s new book.

Eggplant flatbread (for one)

Ingredients

For the flatbread

A quarter cup of whole wheat flour

One eighth cup of warm water

One tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

One eighth teaspoon fresh or dried wild thyme

sprinkle sea salt

for the toppings

Two pieces of baby aubergine

15g pomegranate seeds

One tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

A tablespoon of pomegranate molasses

1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves

three cloves of garlic

A quarter teaspoon of sea salt

One eighth teaspoon of black pepper

five cherry tomatoes

Method

For the flatbread

Add the flour, salt, thyme, and three-quarters of a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to a bowl and cut the fat into flour by rubbing it in.

Then add the water slowly and knead the dough until it comes together.

In a bowl, add the rest of the extra virgin olive oil and let the dough rest, covered, for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough into a 1mm round.

Fry the dough in a hot pan with extra virgin olive oil on both sides until crispy.

for the toppings

Roast the aubergines on a gas stove or in the oven until the aubergine skin is golden brown.

Chop the coriander leaves and mince the garlic.

Carefully peel the roasted aubergines and cut them in half.

Slice the cherry tomatoes.

In a pan, fry the garlic and coriander in extra virgin olive oil with a little salt.

Season the tomatoes with salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil.

Season the aubergines with pomegranate molasses, extra virgin olive oil and salt.

Top the flatbread with all of the topping and serve at room temperature.