It definitely isn’t the first choice of most people, but a study published in PLoS One finds that one meal a day may be the key to optimum health for people with T2D.

This study shows that one meal a day comprised of foods from the Mediterranean diet is associated with better health outcomes than low-fat and low-carb diets. The low-fat and low-card diets included three square meals, daily

As the low-fat and low-card diets are self explanatory, the Mediterranean diet  emphasizes whole grains, legumes, fish, herbs, and nuts. One more fringe benefit to the once a day Mediterranean diet is it was consumed at lunchtime with red wine.

“It is very interesting that the Mediterranean diet, without breakfast and with a massive lunch with wine, did not induce higher blood glucose levels than the low-fat diet lunch, despite such a large single meal.”

Throughout the study, 21 people with T2D tested each diet. During the diet, participants would give 6 separate blood samples. The beneficial results seen with the Mediterranean diet were likely due to the plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts.

So if you’re down with the siesta lifestyle and the big meal at midday, you may be a great candidate for the Mediterranean diet. Plus, if your work permits the afternoon naps, that’s a bonus in the health department.

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