Vikram Jayaprakash - Mediterranean Diet

Taking a whole-body approach to health, Vikram Jayaprakash, M.D., focuses on anti-aging, cosmetic, and functional medicine as Clinical Director of Younger By Design in Auckland, New Zealand. Using bioidentical hormones and the functional matrix model, he also addresses nutrition and how different types of food affect health. A fan of the Mediterranean diet, Dr. Vikram Jayaprakash believes that the ingredients in the diet can improve one’s mood and sense of well-being.

A good diet should include a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fats, all essential to help body tissues grow and repair themselves. The Mediterranean regimen typically includes: plant-based foods; healthy fats such as canola and olive oils; poultry and fish; and low-fat dairy products. The diet avoids red and high-fat meats and typically includes a glass of red wine with dinner for those who imbibe alcohol and a glass of grape juice for teetotalers. The foods contain antioxidants, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, and other valuable nutrients.

While no definitive studies have proven that diet alone will alleviate the symptoms of depression, what we eat obviously plays a role in how we feel, and when our bodies receive the proper nutrition, they tend to thrive. And the better we feel physically, the better we feel emotionally. For these reasons, Dr. Jayaprakash recommends the Mediterranean diet.