Many people have pondered over the success of the
Mediterranean diet of late, which addresses some of the leading health concerns of today, obesity and weight loss. Statistics from a study conducted by leading health organizations are alarming. Statitics how that globally in 2005:
• More than 1.5 billion adults (15 years and above in age) were overweight
• at least 400 million adults were obese
Expert projections state that by 2015, nearly 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese. Once considered a reason of concern only in high-income countries, overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low- and middle-income countries as well, especially in urban settings. It affects both rich and poor people.
People the world over are waking up to alarming health issues and have started taking counter measures to tackle this problem face on. More and more number of people have adopted healthy eating habits and are taking to one type of diet or another. One such diet that is very popular is the Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean diet involves long term commitment to healthy eating habits, rather than short lived success of crash diets or diets such as the grapefruit diet.
The Mediterranean diet was the way of
natural food since centuries for people living in and around the Mediterranean region, that is, Greece, Italy and Spain, and surrounding areas. Other factors such as higher amount of physical activity and stress-free bearings are also important contributors to the high success rate of the Mediterranean diet. Followers of this diet have healthier bodies, proper BMI levels and controlled levels of insulin, blood pressure and cholesterol. Individuals adhering to a Mediterranean Diet have 70 percent higher life expectancy and 80 percent better quality life.
So what is so miraculous about the Mediterranean diet? Mainly those who pursue the normal Mediterranean diet consume low amounts of saturated fat as compared to those who eat a ‘normal’ diet. As a matter of fact, saturated fat consumption is generally within all dietary guidelines. The Mediterranean diet integrates the fundamentals of sound eating — plus a dab of olive oil. Also a glass of red wine — amongst other constituents is a grand ingredient of the Mediterranean diet.
These are some of the key elements of this diet:
• Consume fruits and vegetables have in ample amounts
• Eat fish or shellfish at least twice a week
• Avoid red meat as far as possible
• Olive oil and canola oil, healthy fats should be used for food preparation instead of other fats and oils
• Salt should be avoided and herbs should be used to season food items
• Nuts in small quantities should be consumed regularly
• Red wine, beneficial for blood cells, should be consumed with temperance
• Exercise on a regular basis is an important factor
Studies have shown that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with slower cognitive decline. Ailments related to heart were found to be extremely low in followers of this diet. Many ailments such as the “brain ictus” or stroke and heart attacks (the main cause of death in men) are rare amongst people following the Mediterranean diet. Diseases that can be kept at bay by long term commitment to this diet include the prevention of lung diseases, asthma, allergies, parkinson, alzheimer, and sustaining the bone mass in elderly people.
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