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Mediterranean Diet

The one diet with published research on raising GLP-1 naturally.

The Mediterranean diet centers on vegetables, legumes, whole grains, olive oil, and fish, with limited red meat and processed food. Of all eating patterns, it has some of the strongest independent clinical research directly tying it to increased levels of GLP-1 — the same satiety hormone at the center of triGLP's research.

The Research

What a randomized trial actually found.

A randomized, controlled cross-over trial in adults with type 2 diabetes compared a Mediterranean-style meal against a high-fiber vegetarian meal. Researchers measured GLP-1 and a related satiety hormone, oxyntomodulin, at multiple points after eating. The Mediterranean meal produced significantly higher levels of both hormones than the vegetarian comparison meal over the following three and a half hours.

Separately, research has also shown the Mediterranean diet improves how well the body responds to GLP-1 at the blood vessel level, on top of raising the hormone itself.

Sources: Di Mauro et al. (2021), Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews; Diabetes journals ADA abstract 226-OR (2020).

Worth noting: this research measured GLP-1 after individual meals, in people with type 2 diabetes, over a matter of hours — it's real evidence of a mechanism, not a claim that Mediterranean eating alone produces the level of appetite suppression seen with prescription GLP-1 drugs or a targeted supplement.

Food List

What to eat, and what to limit.

Eat freely

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel)
  • Vegetables and leafy greens
  • Legumes (chickpeas, lentils, beans)
  • Whole grains (farro, brown rice, whole wheat)
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Fresh fruit
  • Greek yogurt and moderate cheese
  • Herbs (oregano, basil, parsley)

Limit

  • Red and processed meat
  • Refined grains (white bread, white pasta)
  • Added sugar and sweets
  • Butter and other saturated fats (used sparingly)
  • Highly processed packaged foods
  • Sugary drinks
Meal Timing

How to get more out of the same foods.

Vegetables and legumes before grains

Eating fiber-rich vegetables or beans before the bread or grain portion of a meal blunts the blood sugar spike and supports a stronger GLP-1 response than eating them in the reverse order.

Front-load your largest meal

Because GLP-1 release is stronger earlier in the day, making lunch — rather than dinner — your biggest meal can work with your body's own rhythm instead of against it.

Recipes

Three Mediterranean meals built around fiber and healthy fat.

Dinner

Grilled Salmon with White Bean & Herb Salad

Serves 220 minHigh fiber
Ingredients
  • 2 salmon fillets
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 can white beans, drained
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 clove garlic
Steps
  1. Rub salmon with oil, salt, pepper; grill 4–5 min per side.
  2. Toss beans, tomatoes, and parsley.
  3. Whisk remaining oil, lemon, and garlic; combine and top with salmon.
Lunch

Greek Chickpea & Cucumber Salad

Serves 212 minHigh fiber
Ingredients
  • 1 can chickpeas, drained
  • 1 cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, oregano
Steps
  1. Combine chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, onion.
  2. Whisk oil, vinegar, and oregano.
  3. Toss with dressing, top with feta, serve.
Breakfast

Veggie & Feta Omelet with Olive Oil

Serves 216 minHigh protein
Ingredients
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped spinach
  • 1/2 cup diced tomato
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta, fresh basil
Steps
  1. Whisk eggs with salt and pepper.
  2. Sauté spinach and tomato in oil, 2 min.
  3. Add eggs, cook until nearly set, fold, top with feta and basil.
Where triGLP & IGNYT Fit

Mediterranean eating hasn't been tested with ProGo® directly — here's the honest picture.

There's real published research on Mediterranean eating and GLP-1, and separate published research on ProGo®'s effect on protein uptake, BMI, and iron — but no study has combined the two. Both work on related pathways, which is why many people choose to combine a satiety-supporting diet with a researched supplement. See the actual trial data →

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