Over the course of the past decade, more and more people in different parts of the world have become aware of the Mediterranean diet regimen. Because the Mediterranean diet has been gaining attention internationally in recent years, many men and women have concluded that the Mediterranean diet is a newly developed dietary program.
In reality, the Mediterranean diet is of ancient origin. The Mediterranean diet scheme has been followed by people who live in the region of the Mediterranean Sea for over two thousand years.
The Birth of the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet in the substantial form that it is in today really had its origins well over two thousand years ago. The Mediterranean diet coalesced in about the Fourth Century BC. During this time period, the people of the Roman Republic and of other nation-states located in and around the Mediterranean region began subsisting upon low fat fish, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
The principle ingredient in all cooked food was olive oil. As a consequence, the diet common to people in this region 2,500 years ago was very similar to the Mediterranean diet regimen of the 21st century.
The Early Spread of the Mediterranean Diet
Throughout the period of the Roman Empire and Roman Republic, the Mediterranean diet spread throughout the regions that were under Roman rule -- representing the first time that the Mediterranean diet garnered ?international? attention.
As the Roman Empire expanded, so did the breadth of the Mediterranean diet. Throughout the Empire, people of all nationalities began to adopt the dining practices of the Mediterranean region.
Recognition of the Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in the 20th Century
The Mediterranean diet attracted the attention of men and women in different countries around the world in the 20th century beginning in 1945. At that time, a medical doctor by the name of Ancel Keys began encouraging his own patients to follow the Mediterranean diet. Although located in the United States, the practices of Dr. Keys caught the interest of other medical professionals and nutritionists in different countries around the world.
Throughout the 20th century and on into the 21st century, researchers began to realize that the Mediterranean diet had significant health benefits, including the reduction of the risks of certain diseases including cancer, cardiovascular and heart disease, hypertension and some other ailments.
The Mediterranean Diet: The 21st Century and Beyond
With more and more men and women becoming concerned about the impact their diet has on health and longevity, a growing number of people are finding themselves attracted to the Mediterranean diet regimen. As more benefits are found to be associated with the Mediterranean diet program, even a larger number of people are expected to flock to the regimen in the coming decade.
One of the fastest growing trends in dieting is the so-called Mediterranean diet. This formula for healthier nutrition has been said to have amazing benefits, including cancer prevention and diabetes control. If you're interested in learning more about this diet plan, you'll find useful information below.
What is Mediterranean Diet?
If you want to follow the Mediterranean diet plan for nutrition, you'll need to change a few of your eating habits. For example, you'll probably need to consume larger quantities of fruits and vegetables, as well as fish. At the same time, you'll need to lower down your consumption of red meat and get additional protein from small portions of nuts. Drinking red wine and adding more healthy oils, such as canola and olive oils, to your diet are also important.
Benefits of the Diet
According to the Mayo Clinic, a study released in 2007 found that people who followed the diet outlined above had much lower risks of cancer and heart disease than did people who followed a more Western diet. Additionally, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that choosing to follow this lifestyle change has a number of powerful benefits for people with diabetes, especially because it is lower in sugar and carbohydrates which can cause spikes in blood sugar levels.
Reasons to Switch
If don't want to go through the stress and negative effects of cancer treatment in your lifetime, changing to eat more of these Mediterranean foods could be a smart idea. After all, many of the known cancer causes do relate to improper nutrition. Plus, if you want to have a healthy immune system to fight back against abnormal cells you'll need adequate nutrition that you won't find in your average fast food meal. Most of the foods included, such as the heart healthy oils, will do double or triple duty protecting you from chronic disease.
Both Roy Barker & Neelam are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Roy Barker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Fitness and Movie Reviews. Site Owner & Publisher Ray Darken - You can gain much more detail from Ray's sites along with other relevant information at or. Roy Barker's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Neelam has sinced written about articles on various topics from Personal Trainer, Tax Preparation and Tax. Know more and cancer symptoms and treatment at the complete online health guide. Find valuable information about. Neelam's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.