The Mediterranean Diet is now recognized as one of the healthiest in the world consisting as it does of large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, nuts, seeds, omega-3 rich oily fish, olives, and olive oil and being comparitively low in dairy products and red meats.
The people of the Mediterranean region, particuarly Greece and Spain, are very fortunate to live in an area where naturally healthy food is readily and cheaply available. The incidence of heart disease and cancer are lower here than anywhere else in the western world and experts now believe this is due in great part to what has become known as the Mediterranean diet.
Modern farming techniques and world wide transport has changed most peoples diets dramatically in the past centuary and it is now widely believed that such changes have had an exteremely detrimental effect on our health. Fortunately the impact of these developments has not had such a catastrophic effect in Mediterranean regions where to a large extent traditional diets are still followed. Of course with the advent of Globalization and MacDonald's! this is sadly changing. However we can all learn alot form what has become known as the Mediterranean diet and by adopting it,vastly improve our health and longevity.
The foods that grow naturally and abundantly in that region and have always formed a part of the local diet are as follows:
Olives, avocados, oranges, lemons, garlic, wild asparagus, walnuts, almonds,tomatoes, artichokes, figs, pomegranates, cherries, strawberries, grapes, plums, spinach, broad beans, peppers along with many other of the more common fruits and vegetables.
These provide large amounts of vitamins, minerals and fibre along with a wide variety of antioxidants and phytochemicals, the importance of which scientists are only now beginning to recognize as they discover more and more healthful benefits of including these elements in our diet.
Historically alot of the milk was produced from goats and cheese made from goats and ewes milk. Very little red meat is eaten and a large majority of the protein is supplied by oily fish such as sardines, mackerel, tuna, sword fish, boquerones and anchovies.
The main oil used is olive, traditionally cold pressed virgin, and this is used not only for cooking and in salads but also for putting on bread in place of butter.
All these foods provide a wide variety of nutriments which have an astonishing array of claims for improving our health such as lowering cholesterol, improving our immune system which thus not only fights infections but also helps to prevent cancer, increasing our metabolism, improving insulin sensitivity and thus lessening the risk of diabetes. It really has never been so true that you are what you eat. Certainly since moving to Andalucia and adopting the Mediteranean diet myself I have never been so healthy or managed to maintain my ideal weight so easily.
Of coures in addition to all the healthy components of this diet there is the added fact that honey is often used in place of sugar and little refined carbohydrates are eaten.
All in all most experts now agree that the Mediterranean diet is the optimum diet
Article submitted by Ruth Polak the owner of http://www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com a web site that specializes in holiday properties on the Costa del Sol and in Rural Andalucia. In addition you will find lots of information about Spain and Andalucia, in particular.
cleaning team near Winnetka ..When it comes to planning a healthy diet, fat is... Read More
Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More
Dr. Barry Sears revolutionized nutritional thinking around the world with... Read More
1. Look for high quality, crystalline, free-form, amino acids (AAs)... Read More
During a recent discussion with my father about low carb... Read More
With summer comes more sun and with more sun comes... Read More
For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played... Read More
Nutrition is extremely important for any young person, especially an... Read More
The fact that diet directly affects behaviour is no news,... Read More
Okay, so you think you are doing pretty well with... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
East Meets WestAsian cultures have realized the medical benefits of... Read More
AgingHow did aging appeared?If mechanism of Death was chosen by... Read More
The topic of food additives is not quickly addressed in... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More
You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, would you?You... Read More
My name is Mildred Shears. I'm retired and I live... Read More
Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don't... Read More
Water is a vitally important component of any valuable and... Read More
Magnesium is an important mineral that serves numerous essential functions... Read More
We sometimes hear about ways that we can take care... Read More
As a low carb dieter, your diet is undoubtedly high... Read More
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..This is such a busy time of year, isn't it?... Read More
The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
Some experts consider carbohydrate craving and addiction as something more... Read More
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin like A and E.... Read More
Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More
Some fats are good for you. Your body can't function... Read More
Sugar intake is a real concern for people who've had... Read More
It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
Beans. Legumes. Pulses. Whatever you call this plant group, they... Read More
Organic farming is the production of food using all natural... Read More
Strict "no carb" phases of low carb diets have developed... Read More
In the brain, a typical protein can live for approximately... Read More
Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More
This is usually the forgotten element of most mass programs.... Read More
The benefits from eating healthy are endless. And, according to... Read More
Picture yourself in one of the following scenarios.You're cruising along... Read More
Summer is not too far away. It is almost time... Read More
Eating out when you are on a restricted diet always... Read More
Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in... Read More
Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but... Read More
In order to eat fewer calories than you need, you... Read More
Each and every person living in the UK is... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
Nutrition |