The green Mediterranean diet has more of a focus on whole foods and vegetables than it’s general counterpart, and doesn’t include any red meat.
Laura Jennings, associate nutritionist at We Are Regular, explains: “The green Mediterranean diet is a polyphenol-enriched version of the classic Mediterranean diet pattern. You still base meals on vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, extra-virgin olive oil, nuts and fish but you reduce red and processed meat and increase specific green, plant-forward foods that are unusually rich in polyphenols and plant protein.”
This can include increasing green tea intake and greens such as seaweed too.
Polyphenol is found in plants and acts as an antioxidant. A higher intake is associated with lower inflammation and increases gut-microbiome diversity, Jennings says. This supports immune resilience among other benefits.
Dining and Cooking