Yes, there is more to the Mediterranean than sun, beach and wine... there is the Mediterranean Diet...
For many years now the inhabitants of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea - (such as southern Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon and Israel) have been considered to be among the healthiest in the world enjoying both high life expectancy plus showing health benefits like low incidence of chronic diseases and in recent years many studies have been made to discover why and if it has to do with more than just the sunshine!
Traditionally, their diet has been based on the livestock, fishing and agriculture of their land and reliance on foods from a rich diversity of plant sources including fruits, whole grains, nuts, beans and seeds. In Northern Africa for example, couscous, vegetables and legumes form the centre of the diet, in the Eastern Mediterranean, bulgar and rice along with vegetables and legumes and in Southern Europe, the basis is formed by rice, polenta, pasta with plenty of vegetables and legumes and everywhere bread is eaten at most meals (but without butter!).
Nutritional research has shown the advantages of a diet HIGH in vegetables, fruits, grains, monounsaturated fats and various complex carbohydrates but LOW in cholesterol and certain forms of saturated fat and led to greater public awareness.
It is true that these foods, like those foods consumed by the rest of Europe and the United States are rich in fat, BUT... of a different type!
Let me explain this: There are three types of dietary fats:
? Saturated fats, (from animals)
? Polyunsaturated fats (from plants, seeds, nuts and vegetables)
? mono saturated fats (olive oil). Olive oil isn't only delicious (and somewhat expensive) but it's also rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E and K as well as iron.
The health and therapeutic benefits of olive oil are vast: namely?
? it does not have the same cholesterol raising effects as the saturated fats found in animal fats
? it contains anti-oxidants that discourage clogging of the arteries and chronic diseases including cancer
? and it also has lubricating properties in so far as it acts as a laxative, aids digestion and protects the intestine from ulcers.
Now, this "Mediterranean diet" - (though not exactly a diet in the ?slimmers? sense of the word), has led to a style of eating that is a move away from relying on manufactured food stuffs to recipes consisting of natural and healthy ingredients eaten raw or minimally processed.
So WHAT typically comprises "The Mediterranean Diet?"
When, in 1993, The Harvard University School of Public Health and Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust (a Boston based educational organisation) held a conference on the Mediterranean diet and its influence on public health, reviewing data concerned with the dietary traditions of those countries bordering the Mediterranean, the committee developed the "Mediterranean Food Guide Pyramid", the main points of which are summarised as follows:
? plenty of food from plant sources, including fruit, vegetables, breads and grains, beans, nuts and seeds
? use of Olive Oil replacing other fats and oils
? fresh fruit daily
? Seasonally fresh and locally grown foods in preference to processed foods
? Saturated fat should constitute less than 20 per cent of total calories
? small amounts of cheese and yoghurt (containing live cultures which may contribute to good health)
? daily moderate amounts of fish and poultry weekly and only a few eggs
? very little red meat
? a glass of wine (especially red) with meals as it contains anti-oxidants and has cholesterol reducing properties (although optional as there are contraindications for women related to breast cancer)
Natalia Kim is a journalist for http://www.beginning-exercise-and-weight-loss-help.com
taxi o'hare Wisconsin Dells ..I really like Dr. Phil, so I wanted to like... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Fat has had a lot of bad press and for... Read More
You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More
I do not smoke, never have, and admit to being... Read More
The very first thing you want to do before you... Read More
The pursuit of a healthier me (or you) shouldn't involve... Read More
1. Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot... Read More
Running For Weight Loss??.Slow DownYou may be out running your... Read More
The general approach for treatment of obesity is to suggest... Read More
Who really wants to lose weight? None of us, right?... Read More
Here are a few free tips on losing weight that... Read More
WEIGHT LOSS:Nutrition and weight-loss researchers say that some supplements can... Read More
I never intended to get fat! I am not exactly... Read More
Ever thought of, known someone, or gone on a diet?... Read More
You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More
Supporters of the Atkins Diet claim that a low carbohydrate... Read More
If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More
Let me tell you something - if you are doing... Read More
We have such good weight loss intentions. We emotionally beat... Read More
Did you know that how and when you eat is... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
The vast majority of postpartum women will not return to... Read More
Have You Given Up on Weight Loss? by Greg Landry,... Read More
Low carb diets, though popular, have met with much controversy.... Read More
bmw rental chicago Ackley ..WAHOO!!! for YOU!! You are the most AWESOME person alive!!... Read More
Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of... Read More
Plan to eat two to three hours and pack health... Read More
One may think that on a website called "LivingAfterWLS" you... Read More
How to Break the Weighing HabitFace it, if you weigh... Read More
Weight loss programs often have big claims. Understand the "science"... Read More
What the Diet Industry Does Not Want You To Know:... Read More
If you're taking a fiber supplement or eating a high... Read More
Your success in sticking with an exercise and weight loss... Read More
Because the Internet allows so many millions of people to... Read More
For many years, herbalists believe that Cayenne is the most... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead... Read More
1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Compulsive eating is characterized mainly by periods of impulsive bingeing... Read More
We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low... Read More
Healthy eating has become part of your life, but you're... Read More
Speculating on the scientifically proven memory unreliability, the memory specialist... Read More
Two basic approaches to losing weight; one approach is correct... Read More
Is a weight loss workout routine right for you? Answer... Read More
Acupuncture for weight loss is a modern application of this... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
No doubt about it, when we feel stressed we want... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Weight Loss |