Mediterranean diet has proven health benefits, expert says

FRANZ. MADDIE. THANK YOU. THE NEW YEAR IS OFTEN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE REFLECT ON THEIR HEALTH HABITS AND THINK ABOUT MAKING SOME CHANGES. IF IMPROVING DIET IS ON YOUR LIST, DOCTOR BARRY RAMOS SAYS THERE IS A PLACE TO START. I WORK AT NEWHART. I’M THE DIRECTOR OF CARDIAC REHABILITATION, AND EVERY DAY I SEE ABOUT EIGHT PEOPLE WHO’VE JUST HAD A HEART ATTACK AND THEIR DIET STINK. IT’S A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED THIS HEART DISEASE. THE DIET THAT I RECOMMEND AND THAT I TRY TO FOLLOW MYSELF IS THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET. IT’S A DIET THAT’S EASY TO FOLLOW. EVERY DAY YOU SHOULD HAVE WHOLE GRAINS, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, BEANS AND OLIVE OIL. AND AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING YOUR PROTEIN INTAKE WITH FISH, LEGUMES, AND CHICKEN. AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO GIVE UP RED MEAT OR SHELLFISH. BUT TRY TO HAVE IT ONLY OCCASIONALLY. AND IF YOU DO HAVE RED MEAT, GET THE LOWER FAT CUTS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET ARE ENORMOUS. THEY’LL HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT, BUT THEY’LL ALSO REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR HEART ATTACK, STROKE, CANCER, AND DIABETES. SO I’M ADVISING YOU THE SAME THING THAT I ADVISE ALL OF MY HEART PATIENTS. A LIFESTYLE THAT MEANS RELAXATION, CONTROLLING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, EXERCISING REGULARLY, AND EATING A DIET THAT’S RICH IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND WHOLE GRAINS. FOR HEALTHBEAT, I’M DOCTOR BARRY ROMO.

KOAT health expert Dr. Barry Ramo says patients who’ve recently had a heart attack share this: “Their diets stink.”

Updated: 6:59 PM MST Jan 4, 2026

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Diet fads come and go, but there is at least one whose benefits are irrefutable and have been for a very long time.KOAT health expert Dr. Barry Ramo, director of cardiac health at New Heart Fitness & Health, says there’s a common denominator among patients who’ve recently had a heart attack.”Their diets stink,” Ramo said. “It’s a major factor in the fact that they developed this heart disease.”The diet he recommends to them and tries his best to follow is the Mediterranean diet.”It’s a diet that’s easy to follow,” Ramo said. “Every day you should have whole grains, fruits, vegetables. beans and olive oil, and at least once a week, you want to focus on improving your protein intake with fish, legumes, and chicken. You don’t have to give up red meat and shellfish, but try to have it only occasionally, and if you do have red meat, get the lower-fat cuts.”For the doubters of this diet’s superiority, Ramo has good reasons why it is the best there is.”The benefits of the Mediterranean diet are enormous,” Ramo said. “They’ll help you manage your weight, but they’ll also reduce your risk for heart attack, stroke, cancer and diabetes.”Why stop with just Mediterranean food?”I’m recommending what I recommend to my heart patients — a Mediterranean lifestyle,” Ramo said. “That means relaxation, controlling your blood pressure, exercising regularly and eating a diet that’s rich with fruits and vegetables and whole grains.”

Diet fads come and go, but there is at least one whose benefits are irrefutable and have been for a very long time.

KOAT health expert Dr. Barry Ramo, director of cardiac health at New Heart Fitness & Health, says there’s a common denominator among patients who’ve recently had a heart attack.

“Their diets stink,” Ramo said. “It’s a major factor in the fact that they developed this heart disease.”

The diet he recommends to them and tries his best to follow is the Mediterranean diet.

“It’s a diet that’s easy to follow,” Ramo said. “Every day you should have whole grains, fruits, vegetables. beans and olive oil, and at least once a week, you want to focus on improving your protein intake with fish, legumes, and chicken. You don’t have to give up red meat and shellfish, but try to have it only occasionally, and if you do have red meat, get the lower-fat cuts.”

For the doubters of this diet’s superiority, Ramo has good reasons why it is the best there is.

“The benefits of the Mediterranean diet are enormous,” Ramo said. “They’ll help you manage your weight, but they’ll also reduce your risk for heart attack, stroke, cancer and diabetes.”

Why stop with just Mediterranean food?

“I’m recommending what I recommend to my heart patients — a Mediterranean lifestyle,” Ramo said. “That means relaxation, controlling your blood pressure, exercising regularly and eating a diet that’s rich with fruits and vegetables and whole grains.”