Mediterranean Diet
A Mediterranean Diet is a style of eating based on the Southern Mediterranean region (i.e. Spain, Greece, and Italy). The Mediterranean Diet consists of a lot of vegetables and fruit, salads dressed with olive oil, fish, bread, pasta, and other grains. The Mediterranean Diet contains only small amounts of fish and poultry, and red meat is rarely eaten. The Mediterranean Diet also contains low to moderate quantities of wine, and some eggs. Red wine is consumed as part of a Mediterranean diet.
Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
- The Mediterranean Diet is low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fat and dietary fiber.
- Olive oil is the prime component of the Mediterranean Diet which is a natural juice that preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit
- The Mediterranean Diet also contains red wine which is good for health as it contains flavonoids with powerful antioxidant properties.
Drawbacks of the Mediterranean Diet
- The Mediterranean diet is high in salt content. Foods such as olives, salt-cured cheeses, anchovies, capers, salted fish roe, and salads dressed with olive oil all contain high levels of salt.
- Dietary factors may be only part of the reason for the health benefits enjoyed by these cultures. Genetics, lifestyle (notably heavy physical labor), and environment may also be involved.
Review of Mediterranean Diet
A 10-year study published in the Journal of American Medicine found that adherence to a Mediterranean diet and healthful lifestyle was associated with more than a 50% lowering of early death rates. A study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry shows that people who followed the Mediterranean diet were less likely to develop depression. The peoples of the Southern Mediterranean area have lower incidence of heart disease than in the West by following the Mediterranean Diet..
Note: Fitho does not endorse this diet.
