Depending on your plan of care, your Tampa functional medicine healthcare provider, like those at PROVOKE Health, may recommend an eating plan based on the Mediterranean diet. If you’re unfamiliar with it, the Mediterranean diet, inspired by the traditional eating habits of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, has long been praised for its health benefits.

Rich in plant-based foods, healthy fats, and lean proteins, the Mediterranean diet emphasizes overall well-being rather than calorie counting or restrictive eating. But what does functional medicine say about the Mediterranean diet? That’s the focus of today’s post.

Tampa Functional Medicine at PROVOKE Health

At PROVOKE Health, we practice functional medicine in Tampa because it’s a patient-centered approach to healthcare that’s intentional about addressing the underlying causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms. This approach to healthcare focuses on personalized plans of care that consider the unique health history (both yours and your family), genetics, biochemical factors, lifestyle, and health and fitness objectives of each of our patients.

When it comes to that which fuels our bodies, especially when we’re sick, functional medicine practitioners like our Founder, Dr. Matt Lewis, D.C., DACBN, CFMP®, and our Medical Director, Dr. Karalynne Blochberger, MD, often emphasize the importance of whole, nutrient-dense foods that support overall health and prevent chronic disease. And that’s where the Mediterranean diet comes into play.

For additional information about functional medicine, please read Functional Medicine Explained, here on the PROVOKE Health Blog.

Key Components of the Mediterranean Diet

Before diving into the Functional Medicine perspective, let’s first take a moment to understand the components of the Mediterranean diet:

• Vegetables and Fruits: These form the cornerstone of the diet, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The Mediterranean diet encourages at least five (5) servings of vegetables and fruits per day, ensuring a variety of colors and types to maximize your intake of nutrients that support your plan of care.
• Whole Grains: Unlike refined grains, whole grains are packed with fiber, which supports digestion and helps you reach and maintain a healthy weight. Whole-grain bread, pasta, and rice are staples of the Mediterranean diet.
• Healthy Fats: The Mediterranean diet emphasizes healthy fats from sources like olive oil, nuts, and seeds. These fats are beneficial to your heart health and can help reduce inflammation, which is common in most of the chronic illnesses we treat at PROVOKE Health.
• Lean Proteins: Fish and seafood are the primary sources of protein that the Mediterranean diet relies on — particularly those rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Poultry, beans, and legumes are also included, while red meat is limited.
• Minimally Processed Foods: The Mediterranean diet is intentional about its avoidance of processed foods and refined sugars, focusing instead on whole, natural ingredients. As we like to say, if it comes in a box, it’s probably not going to be compliant with this particular approach to eating.

Functional Medicine’s View on the Mediterranean Diet

From a Functional Medicine perspective, the Mediterranean diet aligns well with the principles of personalized and whole-body healthcare. Here’s are four ways: Continue reading…