What is the Mediterranean diet?

I know you’ve heard of the Mediterranean diet, anyone who’s been dieting knows about this one. Except, must of us who decide to go on a diet look for quick results. This isn’t that kind of diet, this is more of a lifestyle of correct eating. By following the guide they outline over time excess fat will disappear and you will become a healthier person. Read the following and then do your own research. If it’s not on the chart, don’t eat it. USE YOUR BROWSER AND SEARCH FOR "MEDITERRANEAN FOOD PYRAMID DIET". You'll find a picture of a pyramid of different foods.

The Mediterranean diet has been under research for over 50 years, and its benefits continue to become apparent. The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet range from a lower risk of heart disease, certain cancers,diabetes, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, and stroke; lower blood pressure and LDL levels; improved brain function, eye health, and fertility; healthy body weight; and increased life span. The good news is that you do not need to live in this geographic area to get these benefits. All that you need to do is understand where they come from and what changes you can make to your diet to get them.

The studies done on the Mediterranean diet are not all created equal. These studies use different questionnaires, containing different foods, to measure compliance with the Mediterranean diet. This means that the results that you hear about are not all obtained using the same foods and nutrients. This is important to understand because it gives you lots of options for what you can do with your diet. There is no one Mediterranean diet that you have to follow. Instead, there are different foods, beverages, herbs, and seasonings for the Mediterranean region that you can choose from. Remember too that people in the Mediterranean region where the studies were being done, walk much more than we do. So increased amount of walking would be important for any diet.


The Mediterranean Diet has been around for thousands of years in the Mediterranean region where the focus is on naturally abundant, heart healthy foods. It has become more popular in recent years because the long terms benefits have been proven repeatedly by studies and because it is relatively simple to follow. It groups foods based on the frequency you should eat them to emphasize their benefits and minimize risk factors. How beneficial is this diet? Just recently the New England Journal of Medicine released a study that, among other things, cited a 30% lower chance of heart disease for people following this diet plan than those who did not. Many of the foods focused on in the diet don’t just prevent heart disease but also lower risks of Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

DAILY
Foods consumed daily include fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, potatoes, couscous, quinoa, and whole grains like bread, pasta, and rice. Cheese and yogurt are also recommended but only in the low fat form. Olive oil is the preferred added fat as it’s plant source means it’s low in saturated fat. Another daily recommendation? Physical activity! Simply said for those of us who don't exercise, it means more walking An hour a day more spread out over your day should do the trick.

WEEKLY
With a solid base of daily foods serving as the foundation of your nutrition, the weekly foods are also very good for you and make excellent sources of healthy fats. This includes fish, poultry, eggs, and sweets. These foods are high in protein and many other minerals while the limited inclusion of sweets/refined sugars allows you to indulge in moderation to satisfy other cravings. Remember the key is moderation.

MONTHLY
The monthly food in the Mediterranean diet is red meat. It’s impossible to deny the benefits of red meat as a valuable source of protein and iron but it is also high in saturated fats. Eating red meat sparingly allows for variety in the diet and still takes advantage of other benefits.


BOTTOM LINE
The Mediterranean diet has been around for a long time and unlike many fad diets, it’s focus on a long term healthy lifestyle and daily exercise make it a legitimate routine that will pay off over and over. It’s not ideal for vegetarians or people with a gluten-sensitivity or lactose intolerance but it does work, and work very well, for many other people. Today we have many gluten free foods and lactose free substitutes that can be used in place of anything you can't eat. This diet doesn't have any quick results but if you try it don't give up. I like to think of this is a diet of real food, nothing processed. Be careful what you eat in restaurants and drink lots of water.




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