The
Mediterranean Diet
A
Mediterranean diet can aid in the prevention of heart disease, some
malignancies, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Here's how to make the change.
What exactly is a "Mediterranean
diet?"
When you
think of Mediterranean food, you might think of pizza and spaghetti from Italy
or lamb chops from Greece, but these dishes do not fall into the healthy
dietary programs marketed as "Mediterranean." The proper Mediterranean diet consists of the region's traditional fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts,
seafood, olive oil, and dairy, along with the occasional glass of red wine.
That's how the people of Crete, Greece, and southern Italy ate around 1960,
when their chronic disease rates were among the lowest in the world and their
life expectancy was among the highest, despite having very limited medical
services.
And the true The Mediterranean diet entails more than just eating fresh, nutritious foods.
Physical activity on a daily basis and sharing meals with others are essential.
They can have a significant impact on your mood and mental health, as well as
help you develop a deep appreciation for the delights of eating nutritious and
delicious foods.
And the authentic Mediterranean diet requires more than just eating healthy, fresh
foods. Daily physical activity and meal sharing with others is crucial. They
can have a big impact on your mood and mental health, as well as assist you in
developing a deep appreciation for the pleasures of consuming nutritious and
delicious foods.
The Health Benefits of a
Mediterranean Diet
A traditional
Mediterranean diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seafood, and
olive oil, along with regular physical activity, can lower your risk of major
mental and physical health problems by:
Keeping heart disease and strokes at
bay. The Mediterranean diet reduces your intake of refined pieces of bread, processed foods, and red meat, and
encourages the consumption of red wine rather than hard liquor—all of which can
help avoid heart disease and stroke.
Maintaining your agility. If you are an elderly person, the nutrients
obtained from a Mediterranean diet may reduce your risk of developing muscle
weakness and other indicators of frailty by approximately 70%.
Lowering the risk of Alzheimer's According to research, the
Mediterranean diet may enhance cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and overall
blood vessel health, thus lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Reducing the risk of Parkinson's
disease by half. The
Mediterranean diet's high levels of antioxidants can protect cells from the destructive process is known as oxidative stress, reducing the risk of Parkinson's
disease by half.
Increasing life expectancy. By lowering your chance of acquiring
heart disease or cancer with the Mediterranean diet, you can cut your risk of
death by 20% at any age.
Providing protection against type 2
diabetes. A
Mediterranean diet is high in fiber, which slows digestion, avoids blood sugar
swings, and can help you maintain a healthy weight.
The Mediterranean Diet: Myths and
Facts
Following The Mediterranean diet has many advantages, but there are still many misconceptions
about how to use the lifestyle to live a better, longer life. The
misconceptions and realities regarding the Mediterranean diet are as follows.
Mediterranean
Diet Myths and Facts
Myth 1: Eating this way is expensive.
Fact: If you
make meals using beans or lentils as your major protein source and adhere to
large plants and whole grains, the Mediterranean diet is less expensive than
presenting dishes of packaged or processed foods.
Myth 2: If one glass of wine is
excellent for your heart, three glasses are three times as good.
Fact: While
moderate amounts of red wine (one drink per day for women; two drinks per day
for males) have distinct health benefits for your heart, drinking too much has
the opposite impact. Anything more than two glasses of wine can be harmful to
your heart.
Myth 3: The Mediterranean diet
consists of huge bowls of pasta and bread.
Fact: Unlike
Americans, most Mediterranean’s do not eat a large plate of spaghetti. Instead,
pasta is typically served as a side dish with a 1/2-cup to 1-cup serving size.
Salads, vegetables, fish, or a modest quantity of organic, grass-fed meat, and
possibly one slice of bread make up the rest of their meal.
Myth #4: The Mediterranean diet is
all about food.
Fact: Food
is an important aspect of the Mediterranean diet, but don't forget the other
ways the Mediterranean spend their lives. When they eat, they don't eat in
front of a television or in a hurry; they eat in a comfortable, unhurried
setting with people, which may be just as important for your health as what is
on your plate. The Mediterranean also engages in a lot of physical activity.
How to Bring About Change
If the prospect of converting you’re eating habits to a Mediterranean diet makes you
nervous, here are some ideas to get you started:
Consume a lot of vegetables. Try sliced tomatoes drizzled with
olive oil and crumbled feta cheese, or top your thin crust pizza with peppers
and mushrooms instead of sausage and pepperoni. Salads, soups, and crudité platters
are all excellent sources of vegetables.
Breakfast should always be obsessive. Fruit, whole grains, and other fiber-rich foods are excellent ways to start the day and will keep you satisfied for several hours.
Consume fish twice a week. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids
include tuna, salmon, herring, sablefish (black cod), and sardines, while
shellfish such as mussels, oysters, and clams have similar benefits for brain
and heart health.
Make a vegetarian dish once a week. You can join the “Meatless Mondays”
trend by skipping meat on the first day of the week if that helps.
Alternatively, choose a day where you base your meals on beans, whole grains,
and veggies. Once you've mastered it, try it twice a week.
Dairy products should be consumed in
moderation. The
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends limiting saturated
fat to no more than 10% of daily calories (about 200 calories for most people).
That means you can still eat dairy products like natural (unprocessed) cheese
and Greek or plain yogurt.
Consume fresh fruit for dessert. Choose strawberries, fresh figs,
grapes, or apples instead of ice cream, cake, or other baked foods.
Make use of healthy fats. Extra-virgin olive oil, almonds,
sunflower seeds, olives, and avocados are excellent sources of healthful fats.
What should be done about mercury in
fish?
Despite all
of the health benefits of seafood, nearly all of it contains traces of
contaminants, including the dangerous element mercury. These tips might assist
you in making the most secure decisions:
- Because the concentration of mercury and other contaminants increases in larger fish, it is advised to avoid eating sharks, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel.
- Most individuals can eat around 12 ounces (two 6-ounce portions) of other types of cooked fish each week without getting sick.
- Keep an eye out for local seafood warnings to find out if the fish you've caught is safe to eat.
- Choose lower-mercury fish and shellfish for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children aged 12 and under, such as shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, Pollock, or catfish. Eat no more than 6 ounces (one ordinary meal) of albacore tuna per week due to its elevated mercury content.
Make mealtimes a social event.
The simple act of conversing with a friend or loved one over the dinner table can play a significant part in alleviating tension and improving mood. Eating with people can also help you avoid overeating, making it as good for your waistline as it is for your mood. Turn off the TV and computer, put your phone aside, and engage with someone over a meal.
Bring the family together and keep up
with each other's daily life. Regular family meals bring comfort for children and are an
excellent method to monitor their eating habits.
Share meals with others to broaden
your social network.
If you live alone, cook a little extra and invite a friend, coworker, or
neighbor to join you.
Cook with others. Invite a friend to help you purchase
and cook for a Mediterranean feast. Cooking with others may be a pleasant way
to strengthen relationships, and splitting the costs can make it less expensive
for both of you.
A Mediterranean diet can be started
quickly.
Starting
with little steps is the simplest method to transition to a Mediterranean diet.
You can accomplish this by:
- Using olive oil instead of butter to sauté dishes.
- Consume more fruits and vegetables by eating salad as an appetizer or side dish, snacking on fruit, and incorporating vegetables into other foods.
- Selecting whole grains over processed loaves of bread, rice, and pasta.
- At least twice a week, substitute fish for red meat.
- Reduce high-fat dairy consumption by switching to skim or 1% milk instead of 2% or full milk.
Instead of this:
- Chips, pretzels, crackers, and ranch dip
- White rice with stir-fried meat
- Sandwiches with white bread or rolls
- Ice cream
Try this:
- Carrots, celery, broccoli
- Quinoa with stir-fried
- Sandwich fillings in whole-wheat tortillas
- Pudding made with skim or 1% milk
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