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.
affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
Endurance Sports are like music concerts. They start at a... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
Factory FarmingThe big names in American agriculture would like you... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
Eating right to suit your blood type" is a subject... Read More
Anyone who has spent a day fasting from food, or... Read More
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG... Read More
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such... Read More
You say you don't know what glyconutrients are? You are... Read More
Most of us are "regular" people. We don't eat the... Read More
Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More
Protein must be a part of a healthy diet for... Read More
With all the news about Splenda of late and the... Read More
Studies support the benefits of eating a diet rich in... Read More
If you do not take time to stand back at... Read More
Beverages - and not just alcohol - are a significant... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
For those of us that understand nutrition and it's importance... Read More
If you or someone you know suffers from rheumatoid arthritis,... Read More
You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More
The wonders of modern science continue to amaze us with... Read More
I don't understand people sometimes. You know, there is a... Read More
quick home cleaning Northbrook ..I would like to dispel some of the myths and... Read More
Do you know anyone who can't consume milk or milk-based... Read More
The old clich? that you are what you eat is... Read More
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand.... Read More
You can trust me that I make sure to take... Read More
Our bodies are truly incredible machines. What makes cells healthy?... Read More
Bye Bye HolidaysHoping everyone had a fun, fantastic, exciting and... Read More
FOOD (Macro-nutrients)One of the most important aspects of hill walking... Read More
Nuts of all kinds (I am talking peanuts, cashews etc)... Read More
Because I believe diet and exercise are so important, I'm... Read More
There are basically four major components, or essential molecular components... Read More
If you're suffering from constipation, you are no doubt looking... Read More
You can start today - right now, even - on... Read More
THE RISKNo doubt you've heard of the increasingly popular "raw... Read More
People want to get the very best they can when... Read More
It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the... Read More
Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More
Your magnificent machine is, in fact, a symbiotic collection of... Read More
I want to tell you about the most healthful and... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
Incorporating these fat loss tips will improve your nutrition program.... Read More
Nutrition is extremely important for any young person, especially an... Read More
Despite the fact that accurate nutrition information can be accessed... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More
Nutrition |