Facts And Faqs On The Mediterranean Diet

As I have been living in Italy for the last thirty years, I can vouch for the great qualities of the Mediterranean diet. It is well known that the incidence of heart disease is less in Mediterranean countries than in the USA. The same is true for cancer rates. There is a possibility that this diet may play a part in slowing Alzheimer's disease. It has been studied and researched all over the world.

The Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Greece and southern Italy have always had a long dietary tradition of good food based on natural healthy ingredients. This now forms the basis of the Mediterranean Diet which has become famous all over the world. Why is it so famous? Partly because many scientific bodies, such as Harvard University, have carried out extensive research which shows that this diet is effective in reducing the risk of heart attacks and lowering cancer rates as well.

If you are thinking of losing weight through surgical intervention, then the Mediterranean Diet is not suitable for you. This diet is based on losing weight in a natural healthy way. Not only that but it is easy and the recipes are scrumptious and great fun to prepare.

How easy is it ? Many people ask this question. I would say that once you have mastered about 8 fairly easy pasta or other dishes, then it is simple to adapt those recipes to create others. Versatility is one of the great things about this diet.

Lots of fresh vegetanbles and fruit are the pillars of this diet. Legumes, bread and other cereals are also prominent as indeed is virgin olive oil. Moderate quantities of red wine are allowed at meal times. There is a low consumption of animal products and fish is used a lot although white meats such as chicken can be eaten. These products that I have listed above are full of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids which are great allies in the battle against ageing.

More on red wine as lots of people ask about this. Red wine is recommended at meal times because it contains lots of plant elements such as phytonutrients which are essential for good health. In addition, red wine has flavanoids which are a powerful antioxidant which is a great help in reversing the process of ageing. A less enjoyable alternative (perhaps) is to drink grape juice - it has almost all the same elements as red wine.

Will a Mediterranean diet really reduce my cholesterol? There is a significant amount of evidence and research which shows that bad cholesterol is reduced if you follow this diet. They recommend a lower amount of saturated fats because a high consumption of these will increase your cholesterol. That is why full- fat dairy products and meat in large quantities are not in this diet! Olive oil has had a great press in that it has been shown to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and also blood sugar levels.

There are many types of restaurants and delis which now specialize in Mediterranean food and Italian cuisine is also very popular. It is therefore quite easy to find the ingredients you need to prepare these delicious dishes, quickly, without any fuss. The link below will give you all the details you need to follow the Mediterranean Diet.