Better out than in
Very Interesting|January/February 2022
The Mediterranean diet will increase flatulence, but it has benefits for you and the planet
By Michael Mosley, Illustration by Joe Waldron
Better out than in

I am a big fan of the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in oily fish, nuts, vegetables and legumes (such as lentils and red kidney beans). There's a lot of research showing that this way of eating reduces your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. And we also know that switching from a typical Western diet to a Mediterranean diet can be an effective way to improve your mental health, with studies showing that it reduces rates of anxiety and depression.

But there are a couple of downsides to the diet. Anyone who's started eating more fibre-rich food (or fermented foods, such as sauerkraut) will know that you soon start producing much larger stools and far more wind.

This story is from the January/February 2022 edition of Very Interesting.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January/February 2022 edition of Very Interesting.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM VERY INTERESTINGView All
HOW TO MASTER YOUR METABOLISM
Very Interesting

HOW TO MASTER YOUR METABOLISM

Ready to welcome a leaner, healthier you? It's time for a metabolic makeover. With a few simple, research-backed changes, you can supercharge your body's calorie-burning

time-read
8 mins  |
March/April 2024
A BLUEPRINT FOR ANTI AGEING
Very Interesting

A BLUEPRINT FOR ANTI AGEING

Science says it's time to rethink - and take control - of our body's age. Here's how to slow, halt and potentially turn back your biological clock

time-read
10 mins  |
March/April 2024
THE BROKEN MIRROR
Very Interesting

THE BROKEN MIRROR

Body dysmorphia - the all-consuming obsession with perceived flaws in our looks - is sweeping the globe. One in five young people is thought to be affected. What can be done and how is tech changing the way we see ourselves?

time-read
7 mins  |
March/April 2024
SCROLL REVERSAL
Very Interesting

SCROLL REVERSAL

Losing days by endlessly scrolling on your smartphone? You're not alone. Perhaps neuroscience can help us beat the urge

time-read
2 mins  |
March/April 2024
Going back to the moon
Very Interesting

Going back to the moon

ARTEMIS AND A NEW DAWN OF LUNAR EXPLORATION

time-read
3 mins  |
March/April 2024
SAD CLOWN PARADOX: WHY TEARS OFTEN LIE BEHIND THE LAUGHS
Very Interesting

SAD CLOWN PARADOX: WHY TEARS OFTEN LIE BEHIND THE LAUGHS

Mental health issues are common among comedians and performing is just one way they can self-medicate

time-read
3 mins  |
March/April 2024
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION: HOW COOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR DNA
Very Interesting

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION: HOW COOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR DNA

From roast dinners to scented candles, there are potentially harmful pollutants lurking in every home

time-read
3 mins  |
March/April 2024
FARM OF THE FUTURE
Very Interesting

FARM OF THE FUTURE

Join the BBC's Planet Earth III film crew and go behind the scenes in the city farm that's transforming fields into towers and running almost everything with robots

time-read
8 mins  |
March/April 2024
COULD ONE BOMB DESTROY THE WORLD?
Very Interesting

COULD ONE BOMB DESTROY THE WORLD?

How big a bang are arms manufacturers capable of creating?

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 73
THE THREAT OF DAY ZERO
Very Interesting

THE THREAT OF DAY ZERO

Queues at public water taps could become normal. What can we do to avoid them?

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 73