Why the buzz about Mediterranean diet?

Have you ever wonder why the people following the concepts of Mediterranean diet live longer? What is so special about the Mediterranean lifestyle and food that makes people enjoy a healthier and longer life?

A few centuries ago, people were expected to live well into their 100^th year. As time passes by, it was lowered down to 90, then to 80. Now, someone is lucky to reach 75 years old and still be healthy. It was found out that this is due to the lifestyle that we are living, especially in the United States. The constant stress due to work, not having a solid social relationship with our neighbors and the convenience of having a car and good shows to watch (which leads to a sedentary lifestyle) are just some of the culprits.

During the year 1980, a professor named Ancel Keys has published the results of his study on the Mediterranean diet. He found out that the people living around the Mediterranean basin such as the Greeks and the Italians have longer life span, and it’s all because of their lifestyle.

WHAT IS THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET ALL ABOUT?

While it’s labeled as a diet, the Mediterranean diet is actually a lifestyle. The people following this lifestyle has been found out to follow a healthy eating pattern, have better relationships with their neighbors (which can actually relieve stress), and just enjoys a simple life in general. The long warm weather on the Mediterranean has also contributed to the health of the people.

Basically, the Mediterranean diet is loaded up with high volumes of fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes. These are the foods commonly found in the Mediterranean, which explains why the people here consumes these a lot. They also include white meat and fish in their diet, but in lesser amount than what we’re used to. The Mediterranean diet also includes fat, which mostly comes from olive oil instead of butter like in America. Olive is known for producing the healthy kind of fat, which is why it’s still good even when you use it. Another secret to the Mediterranean diet is the moderate intake of red wine, which is known to be an excellent antioxidant. There are many examples of delicious mediterranean recipes that can satisfy every taste and this is another reason why med diet is for everyone.

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND ITS BENEFITS

So, why are the people so excited about this diet? And how come people are going out of their way to follow it? Here are some of the known benefits of following the Mediterranean diet.

• Reduction of the chance of getting obese or overweight — there is probably no diet right now that’s as balance as the Mediterranean diet, and this helps in lessening the chance of being overweight or obese. In fact, following this diet is highly recommended for people who want to shed off some pounds.
• Long life — the foods included in the Mediterranean diet are all natural, and this aids in preventing a number of life- threatening conditions such as heart attacks and diabetes. Since there is less chance of developing it, it also means there’s a higher chance that you’ll live longer.
• Less chance of developing heart problems—the conditions associated with unhealthy eating such as Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol have less chance of developing with the Mediterranean diet. These conditions all leads to heart problems such as cardiac and vascular diseases, so following the lifestyle lived by the people in the Mediterranean means you also have less chance of developing these conditions.