Singapore researchers develop Asian‑adapted Mediterranean diet

Researchers from Singapore Institute of Technology, in partnership with Singapore General Hospital and airline catering firm SATS, have created Singapore’s first Asian‑adapted Mediterranean diet (AMED). The project examined whether the core nutritional principles of the Mediterranean diet—high intake of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats—could be applied to familiar ASEAN dishes without altering flavours or cooking styles.

The study found participants’ baseline Mediterranean Diet Scores were low (average 4.4 out of 14), indicating limited familiarity with the pattern in Singapore. By increasing vegetables, legumes, whole grains, using healthier fats and leaner proteins, and reducing refined ingredients, the researchers aim to make healthier eating more practical and sustainable for Asian consumers.