Diet & Health Tips

Recipes of the Mediterranean diet: The Mediterranean diet is a kind of modern nutritional model that got its inspiration from the traditional dietary patterns of some of the countries in the Mediteranean basin, particularly Greece, Southern Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Spain, and Turkey. There is no single “Mediterranean” diet, as there are approximately 16 countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. The diets vary between these countries and also between the regions within each country. The different diets are the result of the various ethnic backgrounds, culture, economy, cooking styles, and agricultural production.

Mediterranean-style diets are close to the dietary recommendations of the American Heart Association, but are not followed exactly. In general, the traditional Mediterranean diet consumed by the people of the region contains a high percentage of calories from fat. There are several websites on the Internet where you can find the recipes of the Mediterranean diet. Besides the recipes, you can also get a lot of information about the Mediterranean diet and its popularity.

Food in the Mediterranean diet: The main factor in the appeal of the Mediterranian diet is the full flavored and rich food. Hydrogenated oils and margarine are considered to be bland and lack the flavor that olive oil imparts to food items. It is not easy to understand and define the Mediterranean nutrition and diet. The traditional diets in southern Italy and Greece have been studied extensively over the past few years. This is because of the low incidence of chronic diseases and rates of high life expectancy that is attributed the traditional food in the Mediterranean diet. As much as 40% of total daily calories from fat is delivered by this diet, yet there has been a significant decrease in the incidences of cardiovascular diseases. This is because olive oil is a monounsaturated fatty acid, and does not have the same effect of raising cholesterol levels, compared to saturated fats. It is also a good source of antioxidants. The people of Mediterranean benefit a lot by eating fish, which they consume several times in a week. This increases the amount of omega-3 fatty acids. The consumption of red meat is also beneficial to health. According to a general consensus among health professionals, the Mediterranean diet is healthier than the American or North European diet due to the consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and grain-based food like spaghetti.

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