For long, we have heard that the Mediterranean diet is the best for heart health as it is anti-inflammatory and wondered how we could ever recreate that with Indian ingredients. Now doctors and researchers from AIIMS Delhi, The George Institute of Global Health, Delhi and the University of South Carolina, USA have come up with an Indian Adapted Mediterranean Diet (IAMD) for patients of coronary artery disease.
This is a seven-day diet plan with North Indian recipes that have been developed, aligning with Mediterranean diet principles. Diet is an important risk factor associated with coronary artery disease.
Dr Ambuj Roy, professor of cardiology at AIIMS and principal investigator of the project, said a feasibility study of the diet developed has been completed and is under review. The diets developed had a high rate of acceptance and greater details would be shared once the paper is published, he added.
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“There is also an ongoing clinical trial at AIIMS, Delhi, to study the impact of IAMD on the dietary habits of patients with heart disease or at high risk for heart disease. We also hope to expand the development of IAMD beyond North Indian cuisine to accommodate the great diversity of the Indian diet and culinary culture. We have developed a website for its wider dissemination,” he said.
Will an Indian diet based on Mediterranean dietary principles work?
The diet was found to be highly anti-inflammatory, with the lowest Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores reported in medical literature. This score assesses the potential of a diet to promote or reduce inflammation in the body. Our traditional Indian diets have several locally-available, anti-inflammatory ingredients similar to the Mediterranean diet like a diversity of fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts though we heavily rely on cereals.
We did a free listing of the foods that constitute a Mediterranean diet and matched Indian alternatives where specific Mediterranean foods could not be used due to non-availability or cultural acceptability.
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Why is a Mediterranean diet beneficial for patients of coronary artery disease?
The Mediterranean diet is a lifestyle centred around nutritious, anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, healthy fats, and fish, with limited intake of red meat and processed foods. Rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, fibre and Omega-3s, the diet supports heart and gut health and helps prevent inflammation-related diseases.
How was this adapted in a north Indian diet?
We have a wide variety of plant-based foods, whole grains like millets, legumes, spices and minimally processed meals made from scratch. Coastal regions consume diverse fish. Many of these ingredients, such as turmeric and whole spices, have known anti-inflammatory properties. We included such food items and cooking styles in our user-friendly diet.
What are key diet takeaways?
1. Boost vegetable and fruit intake. Include 4–6 servings of local, seasonal vegetables (especially green leafy ones) and colourful fruits like citrus and berries. Rich in vitamins C, E, A, and phytochemicals, they help reduce inflammation.
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2. Choose healthy fats. Use oils like mustard, peanut, and rice bran. Add nuts and fish — great sources of Omega-3s that lower inflammatory chemicals in the body.
3. Use traditional spices. Incorporate herbs, garlic, ginger, turmeric and other condiments as traditionally done — these have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Prioritise whole grains and pulses. Opt for high-fibre foods like multigrain flour, millets, and whole pulses to support gut health and immunity.
5. Replace added sugar with naturally sweet options like local berries.
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6. Avoid ultra-processed foods: Skip items you can’t make at home—additives and preservatives in them promote inflammation.
What should patients of coronary artery disease remain careful about?
While it’s common to cut fats, especially post-heart attack, this approach stems from Western models where saturated fat is the main culprit. Extreme low-fat or boiled diets are counterproductive. Patients need proper guidance to include good fats, healthy nuts, and a variety of anti-inflammatory foods, while avoiding refined carbs.