The Mediterranean Diet
The Advantages & Tips From The Mediterranean
Diet
The popularity of the Mediterranean Diet started this way:
apparently, the people of Greece and Southern Italy tended
to eat a diet rich in fat, yet had less cardiovascular disease
than people in the U.S. Why is this so? The answer seems to
lie in the Mediterranean’s dependence on the monosaturated
fat which is known as olive oil. Olive oil makes up for the
basis of Mediterranean cooking, which is also the key ingredient
in preparing everything from pasta to steak. Olive oil has
been known for fighting against cancer since it is also an
antioxidant.
However, it is not very easy to follow the Mediterranean
Diet. While 40 percent of one’s total calories are derived
from fat, dieters can only eat small portions of red meat.
Not only that, even fish and poultry are de-emphasized, just
like milk and milk products. The Mediterranean Diet allows
you to eat bread and potatoes in moderation, and you can eat
eggs as often as every other day. Even wine is allowed in
moderate amounts.
It should be pointed out that the Mediterranean Diet does
not offer much in saturated fat or trans fat, which means,
dieters have to avoid certain oils such as margarine, peanut
butter, cakes and cookies. Dieters are also advised to reduce
the total amount of fat they eat each day.
A study carried out in France showed that people who had
had at least one heart attack who changed their diet habit
by following the Mediterranean way were less likely to suffer
from subsequent heart attacks than those who followed a typical
diet recommended by the American Heart Association. Another
study carried out last year stated that those who used the
Mediterranean diet, exercised, and abstained from smoking
were less likely to die than those who followed a traditional
diet.
Unfortunately, not all the foods found in a typical Mediterranean
Diet are healthy. For example, cheese-rich lasagna and ravioli
can be roadblocks to weight loss. On top of that, tiramisu
and canolli can also cause an individual to pack on the pounds.
Some dieticians suggest taking the best elements of the Mediterranean
Diet and combining them into your lifestyle to help you to
achieve good health and weight loss. Emphasize vegetables
in your diet, accompanied with whole grains and nuts. You
might be surprised to know that the average Mediterranean
consumes red meat less than twice a week. And, if you are
a follower of the Mediterranean diet, you should also ban
the butter and sugary snacks and go for fruit instead when
choosing a dessert.
As part of the Mediterranean lifestyle, they tend to walk
and bike a lot, which contributes to their calorie-burning.
Besides, you should always take time do dine in, so that the
body has time for proper digestion.
A typical Mediterranean menu would include cereal and banana
for breakfast, and lunch includes minestrone soup and a slice
of garlic bread for lunch while the dinner is made up of pasta
primavera and berries. The best thing about the Mediterranean
Diet is that how it feasts the eyes, the colors are bold,
the flavors are enticing, and the aroma is unbeatable.
Cardiologist Michael Ozner has been introducing the Mediterranean
Diet to his patients for almost 30 years. Given to the popularity
of the diet, Ozner published a book called Miami Mediterranean
Diet, which includes hundreds of tips for cooking up Mediterranean
specialties.
On top of helping people lose weight, the Mediterranean Diet
has been known for improving lifespan for people within the
Mediterranean Basin. Generally, the diet is considered a healthy,
life-giving alternative to some diets in the market today.
Perhaps the diet’s best selling point is the fact that
dieters say it helps to satisfy their cravings, and at the
same time enabling them to lose weight.
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