Healthy Living through The Mediterranean Diet

By its name alone, the Mediterranean diet plan attracts a lot of current and would be dieters due to its exotic name. But what is it exactly? One concern of the Mediterranean diet plan is that it allows 40% fat intake compared to the 30% of the American Heart Association. Let's go into more detail as it seems a waste to just let it go without giving it a fair reading.

The Mediterranean diet plan evolved from the respective diet plans of countries surrounding the Mediterranean sea region. Among the countries surrounding the region are the south of France, southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus. Originally introduced by American doctor Ancel Keys, the diet plan failed to gain popular recognition until the 1990's. Based on scientific data, people around the Mediterranean region had lower rates of cardiac arrest compared to people in America who, for all intents and purposes, consumed the same relative amount of fat. One possible explanation is the presence of essential olive oil and red beverages. Olive oil lowers cholesterol levels in the blood while red beverages contains flavonoids. Flavonoids are anti-oxidants that also help the body when dealing with allergenic material, viruses and carcinogens.

Another contributing factor to a European's better health could be the fact that they tend to walk more than people in America do. Questions have also been raised as to whether the Mediterranean diet plan contributes enough iron and calcium to the eating plan plan. Vegetables and goat cheese have been found to contribute these nutrients respectively.

The thing about the Mediterranean diet plan is that its foods are often rich and delicious thanks to essential olive oil. Normally, margarine and hydrogenated oils lack the taste that essential olive oil gives out. Another part of the eating plan plan is regular but moderate intake of red beverages. Fats intake is low as opposed to high amounts of monounsaturated fat and dietary fiber. This is due to the fact that the eating plan plan includes big servings of fruit, vegetables, breads, cereals, essential olive oil and seafood.

In comparing the food chart of the United States against the Mediterranean diet plan, people of the Mediterranean region consume fruit, vegetables and grain just as people in America do. The main difference lies in the fact that Americans consume more red meat. Use of cold water seafood is also prominent in the Mediterranean diet plan. This results in reduced risks of heart problems, cancer and improved immune system functions. Compared to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) chart, the Mediterranean diet plan contains little soaked and trans fat that raise cholesterol in the blood. The USDA's chart does not differentiate from healthier and bad fats.

Characteristically speaking, the Mediterranean diet plan has high intake of essential olive oil. Breads, cereals, fruit and veggies likewise have maximum intake in the eating plan plan. Fish and poultry as well as bottles are moderately consumed while eggs and red meat are rated as very low in intake.

The problem with most diet plans is that they tend to be extreme. Some diet plans, like the vegetarian eating plan, limit a person to just eating fruit, tofu, yogurt and vegetables. Other diet plans would require high protein intake while severely limiting intake of the other types. Like a user friendly computer, the Mediterranean diet plan does not go to extremes to achieve a desired result. The diet plan allows for intake of delicious foods. This allows the dieter to actually enjoy the gastronomic delights normally prohibited by other diet plans. A solid testament to this fact rests on the presence of bottles in the eating plan plan.

The most surprising aspect of the Mediterranean diet plan is that fat is regarded as a normal and balanced dietary component. Keep in mind that it is the fat that gives food most of its taste. Two substances, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats, are considered to eat well and balanced and are not restricted in the eating plan plan. Olive oil, canola oil and nuts are good sources of monounsaturated fat while seafood, vegetables and nuts contain the healthier omega-3 acids. Fats and trans fat, on the other hand are considered to be unhealthy as they contribute to heart problems. Red meat, butter cheese and milk are sources of soaked fat while unhealthy foods contain hydrogenated oils from which trans fat comes from.

From what has been written so far, and from all the sources and references where this article was taken from, the Mediterranean diet plan comes highly recommended by health professionals. Mediterranean Diet Recipes maintain a normal and balanced but delicious, smorgasbord of delicious foods with which you can maintain eating plan plans without the need to sacrifice taste and variety. While we appreciate the people who struggle and strive to come up with healthier diet plans, good food carries more weight in our stomachs. This is the power of The Mediterranean Diet.