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.
trusted cleaning company Bannockburn ..This free list of fat burning foods will help you... Read More
Water is a vitally important component of any valuable and... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
Manganese is a metallic mineral that was discovered by a... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
Although many realize that the liver has its own cleansing... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
During a recent discussion with my father about low carb... Read More
Copyright ? 2004 priya shah Glutathione, the body's... Read More
Nails are a protective horn at the end of our... Read More
Food nutrition factsFinding food nutrition facts and dietary nutrition used... Read More
Imagine you're a cell.Inside your body runs the machinery that... Read More
It's really hard to believe that something could be worse... Read More
Magnesium is an important mineral that serves numerous essential functions... Read More
I'm going to be a bit radical here, but know... Read More
I don't understand people sometimes. You know, there is a... Read More
Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you... Read More
A fictional overheard conversation at a Thelma's Fine Dining.Hi, I'm... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More
I turned into my parents' driveway in Maryland and parked... Read More
Summer is not too far away. It is almost time... Read More
One way to combat the boredom many people complain accompanies... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
luxury cleaning services Lake Forest ..The problem with sugar is that it doesn't contain any... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
About 12.6 million Americans currently have heart disease.1.1 million Americans... Read More
I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determination weakens... Read More
Please feel free to comment, so that the article may... Read More
Millions of people around the UK consume dairy products on... Read More
I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More
The Zone Diet has been around since around 1995, when... Read More
If you're looking for a power-packed entr?e or soup to... Read More
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More
The makers of Bumble Bee Tuna generated some buzz today... Read More
Most digestive disorders develop because of the bodys inability to... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More
FOOD (Macro-nutrients)One of the most important aspects of hill walking... Read More
Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of... Read More
For some people it is really hard to give up... Read More
Fats (triacylglycerols) ...Some basic terminology ...fat or fatty acid ...In... Read More
Step 1: Eat five to ten servings per day of... Read More
There are basically four major components, or essential molecular components... Read More
Americans are literally running out of time. Achieving a work-life... Read More
Are there any benefits to be obtained from drinking water... Read More
Food addiction isn't a problem. Pretending like you can't live... Read More
I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) in... Read More
Health is the thing. And no matter how many ways... Read More
Nutrition |