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.
recurring maid service Wilmette ..If you want to build muscle, lose body fat or... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
Green tea has been used as for medical remedies in... Read More
According to the renowned research scientist and inventor of the... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
Did you know that much of our dry skin comes... Read More
The secret of success is knowing how to deal with... Read More
Do you know anyone who can't consume milk or milk-based... Read More
Are you worried yet about your health? Are you anxious... Read More
What I am also going to point out is the... Read More
Spring in New York City is a really magical time.... Read More
Do you know the risks to daily intakes of Starbucks... Read More
Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
What is health? Everyone wants this thing called health, and... Read More
Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
Quick Overview- I think the most important thing for people... Read More
Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, was thought of as... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More
Calcium helps reduce constipationUsing calcium and magnesium in the right... Read More
The problem with sugar is that it doesn't contain any... Read More
For those of us that understand nutrition and it's importance... Read More
Beans. Legumes. Pulses. Whatever you call this plant group, they... Read More
last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..There are numerous diets out there that guarantee that they... Read More
Factory FarmingThe big names in American agriculture would like you... Read More
Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
"What exercises can I do to ?? As fitness professional... Read More
Eating healthy is fast becoming a way of life. American's... Read More
Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you... Read More
The reason I remember the first time I was served... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
The word herb is used to refer to any part... Read More
Salt is vital for our health. Right now, you have... Read More
For decades science has been looking for the answers to... Read More
Flaxseeds may be the smallest seeds you will find in... Read More
Strict "no carb" phases of low carb diets have developed... Read More
The makers of Bumble Bee Tuna generated some buzz today... Read More
LIFESTYLE WELLNESS = An Adventure of Health + Vitality!Not a... Read More
Eating healthy and taking care of yourself is essential to... Read More
Here's a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and... Read More
It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
(ARA) - By now you probably think you've heard all... Read More
Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
Better sleep = better metabolism. I have been saying it... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
Nutrition |