Variation on the Mediterranean diet may help you make it to 100: Consider trying the “Pioppi” diet for 7 days

Renowned cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra and former athlete Donal O’Neill have written a book called The Pioppi Diet: A 21-day Lifestyle Plan, which features a seven-day diet plan that adopts the regular meal plans followed by residents of Pioppi Village in Italy. Pioppi has been acknowledged by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the home of the Mediterranean diet, and has been recognized as the world’s healthiest village. According to a Daily Mail article, residents of Pioppi are known to live past 100 years old.

Village residents are also known to include bacon and chocolates as their meal staples, but also consume a lot of beneficial oils, vegetables, oily fish and nuts. This reduces their risk of developing type-2 diabetes and heart disease. The seven-day meal plan featured in the book suggests that people start the day by taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. According to the experts, this helps relieve acid reflux, prevent high blood pressure, and promote weight loss.

Likewise, the meal plan includes mostly eggs that provide an ample source of protein and helps stave off hunger pangs. The experts have also recommended undergoing intermittent fasting by restricting the eating window to between eight to nine hours only. In addition, red wine intake is not discourage as long as it is a high-quality variety. The plan also lists various food combinations that people can follow each day of the week.

The meal plan suggests that people refrain from eating solid breakfast from Mondays to Wednesdays, and recommends drinking only coffee with coconut cream in the morning. The diet plan also recommends a gradual increase of food items through out the day, which include eggs and various omelette recipes as well as fish and vegetable dishes. Likewise, the meal plan advises that people eat grilled meat, poultry, fruits and various dairy products through out the week. 

Study confirms efficacy of Pioppi diet in boosting overall health

A previous study carried out by Dr. Malhotra has demonstrated that adopting a Pioppian diet may well improve the body’s overall health. According to the renowned cardiologist, following a diet low in sugar and high in beneficial fats may have greatly contributed to the residents’ remarkable longevity. In his study, the expert observed that the villagers followed a diet rich in vegetables, fish, and olive oil. Aside from this, the villagers also avoided consuming too much sugar, and rarely ate meat or dairy products. He has also found that the locals had low stress levels, drank a glass of wine daily, and slept seven hours per night. (Related: Italian village where most live to be 100 reveals the secret to a long life.)

“Yes, the locals eat pasta – but only in small quantities, and they rarely touch sugar. They only eat dessert on a Sunday, pizza once or twice a month. They take time over lunch. They don’t have a gym but they are constantly on the go…Diet is the number one issue. More than physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol, it contributes to more disease and deaths. This should be the message from doctors – food is medicine. There is no such thing as a healthy weight, but a healthy person. That is what we should all be aiming for. Living like a Pioppian would mean a reduction in the 20 million annual deaths worldwide caused by cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Malhotra.

Sources include: 

DailyMail.co.uk 1

DailyMail.co.uk 2

Express.co.uk