Want to eat healthy? The Mediterranean Diet is an option worth considering. It is being practiced by people who want to follow the basic elements found in the way people eat in Mediterranean countries. It follows the dietary patterns in such countries as Greece and Italy. But it is more than a diet. The Mediterranean Diet is a nutritional model.
And what can you eat when you follow this diet? Some of the most basic building blocks of many Mediterranean diet recipes include fruits, veggies, cereals, bread, rice, and other things from the earth. Wheat is a staple in the Mediterranean Diet, as grain is imperative in any healthy diet. In addition, red wine and olive oil are important staples in such a nutritional model, as are different kinds of fish.
Although this diet was introduced in the mid 1940s, it was not until the early 1990s that it really became noticed and began to pick up any speed. This is because people who live in that area of the world have been known to have significantly lower cholesterol levels. Another reason that people claim to love eating according to the many Mediterranean diet recipes is because of a powerful rumor: It could fight off cancer as well.
So is it time for you to make a switch and eat a Mediterranean Diet? Whether or not this is the best one for you remains to be seen; it's just another way of eating. But there is certainly no denying that it is a much healthier way of eating. You can find green vegetables, calcium, and other important minerals and vitamins in the foods used in the preparation of many your more basic Mediterranean diet recipes.
So check out some of the tips and Mediterranean diet recipes that are out there, if you're interested in a change of diet. For a healthier way of living, it just might be the way to go.
The Mediterranean Diet: What the Greeks Know about healthy cuisine
"If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want." -- Elbert Hubbard.
There are so many approaches to optimum wellness. Infomercials tell us about a variety of diet plans from pills and native plants to the benefits of liquid diets over conventional weight loss methods. What should you believe?
One of the clarion calls of caution is the old adage, "If it's too good to be true - it probably is."
The Mediterranean Diet relies solely on age old wisdom. Present research verification demonstrates that one man's daily meal is another man's trip to optimum wellness.
In Greece, certain symptoms of heart disease are among the lowest in the world. It would seem that the largest body of current scientific research indicates that a diet high in fruits and veggies along with routine consumption of whole grains, legumes, fish, low fat dairy products, olive oil and nuts provide long term and protective health benefits.
With the Mediterranean diet you will find that optimal health is even more important than the accompanying weight loss. What native Greek's have intuitively known for centuries has now been linked to scientific data that shows adherence to common Mediterranean diet practices may result in a reduction in heart disease, increased life expectancy and reduced risk of some cancers. The health benefits of olive oil have long been realized in Greece.
The term "Mediterranean Diet" truly is a generic term because the diet in Greece remains varied. You will find influences from North Africa and Italy in many Greek dishes, however the island of Crete has proven a veritable treasure trove of health research. Residents of Crete have one of the lowest heart disease risks in the world.
Interestingly, western culture is looking into the health benefits found in countries like Greece, but many of the younger population in Greece are seeking out western cuisine. The trend has proven somewhat antithetical to the wellness experienced by older Greeks. While parents are consuming melons, stuffed tomatoes, salads and yogurt, the younger Greek generation are consuming cookies, hamburgers, French fries, pizza and pop. The result is an increase in obesity among Greek's youth culture - researchers expect to see an accompanying rise in heart disease in the years to come.
With the Mediterranean diet, butter is replaced with the health benefits of olive oil, fast food lunches are replaced by a variety of fresh vegetables - snacks of chocolate and colas are replaced by fresh fruit and nuts.
Perhaps the reason you don't hear as much about the Mediterranean diet as you might other weight loss plans is that there is no special pill to buy, no special formula to drink and no 12-step meal plan to purchase.
The Mediterranean diet works because common sense prevails in eating choices and a rise in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) is an indicator they are doing something right. The health benefits of olive oil cannot be overstated and traditional Greek cooking utilizes garden fresh produce and extra virgin olive oil. In tandem, this common sense approach continues to see a lower incidence of heart disease and colon cancer along with an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in overall weight.
Both Jessica P & James Zeller 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.
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