ArticlesBase.com - Free Articles Directory
Free Online Articles Directory
20.08.2008 Sign In Register Hello Guest
Email:
Password:
Remember Me 
forgot your password?


A Simple Summary of the Mediterranean Diet

Author: Roger Wakefield Author Ranking Silver | Posted: 11-07-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 12 | Rating:  (216) Article Popularity - Blue (?) Got a Question? Ask.
Sign Up Now!

The Mediterranean Diet is based on the diet of people living in Greece, Italy, Southern France and Spain. Mediterraneans consume about the same amount of fat as Northern Europeans and Americans yet live longer, have a lower incidence of heart disease and cancer, and lower cholesterol levels.

An American doctor called Ancel Keys was the first person to comments favourably on the Mediterranean diet, way back in 1945, but its current popularity is based on research and observations from the last twenty years. The surprising thing is that people living in the Mediterranean typically consume more fat than North European countries and the USA, but have much reduced incidence of heart disease - the exact reasons are unknown, but it is likely that the main reason is that most of the fat in the Mediterranean Diet comes from olive oil and that there is more physical labour involved in their lives.

Nevertheless, we can all use Mediterranean diet recipes in our daily lives to be more healthy.

The Mediterranean Diet is rich in olive oil, fresh fruit and vegetables, legumes, fish and unrefined cereals. Mediterranean people have a moderate consumption of dairy products and wine, and a low consumption of meat, meat products and saturated fat. The typical constituents of a Mediterranean diet are:-


Olive Oil
People living in the Mediterranean use olive oil, a monounsaturated oil, instead of saturated fats. They drizzle olive oil on their bread instead of butter, they use it as a salad dressing and cook with it.
Olive oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidants which help to prevent cancer, clogging of the arteries and heart disease. Olive oil lowers bad cholesterol and increases the amount of good cholesterol, keeping our arteries healthy. It helps to keep our digestive systems healthy, is good for brain development and is thought to help dissolve blood clots.
Look in your recipe collection for diet recipes using olive oil and substitute olive oil for saturated fats.


Fish
Northern Europeans and Americans eat a diet high in red meat, Mediterraneans eat a diet high in fish and shellfish. Red meat is a source of saturated fat which can cause heart disease whereas fish and shellfish are high in minerals and proteins, and low in fat. Oily fish such as salmon, fresh tuna, anchovies and swordfish are a good source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids which help to prevent heart disease.
Browse online for free recipes and Mediterranean diet recipes to incorporate more oily fish into your diet.


Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
The Mediterranean Diet is high in fresh fruit and vegetables. Mediterranean people shop at markets and buy fresh, seasonal produce. Fruit and vegetables are high in fibre, vitamins and minerals including antioxidants and do not contain cholesterol. A diet high in fruit and vegetables helps to protect us against cancer and heart disease, and also keeps our digestive systems healthy.


Wholegrains
Wholegrains are rich in essential vitamins and fibre. The fibre helps to keep our digestive systems in good working order. Wholegrains help to reduce cholesterol, reduce our risk of heart disease, some types of cancer and diabetes.


Legumes
Legumes are a good source of vitamins, minerals and soluble fibre. They help to reduce cholesterol, keep our digestive systems healthy and help to balance blood sugar levels. Look for diet recipes which use dried beans and pulses and add beans to stews and casseroles.


Red Wine
Mediterraneans enjoy drinking red wine in moderate amounts. Red wine is rich in flavanoids which contain antioxidants.

It is fairly easy to find Mediterranean diet recipes to add to our recipe collection, and even easier to modify our normal recipes to include more of the above foods, so why not give it a try.

Rate this Article: Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Tags: Food, Diet, Health, Nutrition, Cooking, Foods

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/a-simple-summary-of-the-mediterranean-diet-480981.html

Print this Article Print article   Email to a Friend Send to friend   Publish this Article on your Website Publish this Article   Send Author Feedback Author feedback  
About the Author:

Roger Wakefield is a web developer for the Recipe File site, (http://www.recipe-file.co.uk), which is one of the most useful collections of recipes on the internet. The Recipe File website includes over 40 thousand recipes which range from chicken recipes to nut recipes. Cooking for your family can be simple and fun if you have some great recipes to start with. The Recipe File ensures that you will always be able to find a scrumptious new recipe in seconds.

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Comment on this article Comment on this article
Your Name
Your Email:
Comment Body
Enter Validation Code: Captcha


Related Articles

Cabbage and What it Can Do for you
By: Anna Stone | 29/10/2007 | Nutrition
Cabbage is possibly one of the most underestimated vegetables in the world. Find out what it can do and how it can assist your health, weight-loss efforts, and well-being.

An Introduction to Sugar Free Cooking
By: Nick Kakolowski | 15/06/2008 | Cooking Tips
Obtaining and maintaining slim figures, managing blood sugar levels, controlling nerve pain and preventing dental problems are just a few of the reasons why many today are searching for ways to remove sugar from their diet. Although controlling one’s sweet tooth can be one of the most daunting tasks even the most stringent of dieters face, it is an extremely effective for weight loss. There are many advantages to a sugar-free diet, still why is it so difficult to stay off of sugar?

How to Have a Perfect Picnic This Summer
By: Nick Kakolowski | 15/06/2008 | Cooking Tips
Picnics can be a tricky event to plan. On one particular day the food could be perfect, the location glorious and the activities fun. The next time you go the location could be more crowded, the food could take longer to cook and suddenly the activities become boring. In order to make your picnic a success time and time again, a few steps should be taken while preparing for this spring or summer event.

Top Items to Have for a Perfect Bbq
By: Nick Kakolowski | 15/06/2008 | Cooking Tips
The summer sun is approaching fast, and what can mark the season better then a little backyard barbecue? At this time of year, the perfect summer party is on everybody’s mind, but, as with any other plan, problems can arise. There are, however, a few sure-fire ways to have a great time around the BBQ this summer.

Cooking Tips for Healthy Eating
By: Denny Phillips | 17/07/2007 | Health
Being health conscious seems to be part of everyone’s lifestyle today. Here are a few helpful tips taken from the Good Cooking Central website that you can use as a guide for more tasteful and healthful eating.

Ten Terrific Superfoods That Will Enhance Your Wellbeing
By: Roger Wakefield | 11/07/2008 | Nutrition
This article explores superfoods and how they can help improve different aspects of our health. It includes a list of 10 widely acclaimed superfoods with the specific benefits.

Baking Ideas for Summer Foods
By: Nick Kakolowski | 01/07/2008 | Cooking Tips
The summer is a great time of year for baking. The natural response to the warmer weather would be to enjoy the outdoors rather than baking in your kitchen, but it is quite the opposite. Although you are working in the heat of the oven, the snacks you can create are enough to cool you off while enjoying the process of creating deserts yourself.

Baking Tips for Novice Chefs
By: Nick Kakolowski | 01/07/2008 | Cooking Tips
Baking can be an intimidating process when one is first learning. Images of smoke pouring out of the oven and rock hard rolls can haunt thoughts of preparing a Thanksgiving dinner. But have no fear; there are a few simple ways to avoid the confusion and stress that comes with baking. The first key is to gain a basic understanding of what you are looking to make such as ingredients, and the baking process.

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Q&A Powered by:
Powered by Yedda 

Latest Nutrition Articles

Eight Foods You Should Eat Every Day
By: Sandra Prior | 20/08/2008
Want to be in control of your health? Get energized and live longer; just eat these eight food – along with a little protein such as salmon or lean steak.

The Numerous Benefits of Consuming Fruit
By: Lyla Feldman | 20/08/2008
Everyone has heard that consuming five servings of fruit and vegetables each day is beneficial to your health. But who really knows what does health benefits are?

Tea Is Just The Tonic
By: Shaun Parker | 20/08/2008
An article about the health benefits of tea drinking and how the plant is processed.

Mediterranean Diet
By: Dr John Anne | 20/08/2008
Mediterranean diet is a diet that is taken by the people who lives in the countries of the border of Mediterranean Sea. At least 16 countries border the Mediterranean Sea. A diet that varies between these countries and also between regions within a country comes under the category of Mediterranean diet.

Dummies Guide to the Atkins Diet
By: Steven Bellisle | 20/08/2008
Dr. Robert C. Atkins took the weight loss industry by storm when he published his now famous book "The Atkins Diet". He said to ignore the fat and limit carbohydrates to lose weight. Countless people have had great success with The Atkins Diet. That success speaks volumes.

7 Low Carbohydrate Snacks That You Can Carry Around
By: Chung Leong Yu | 19/08/2008
What are the low carbohydrate snacks that you can carry when you are out? In the present times, people have become so choosy and very calorie conscious about eating food. Maintaining a low carbohydrate diet can be difficult when you're hungry and dinner is hours away. These 7 snacks can help you pull through your though dieting times.

A Quick Lesson on Water Purification Technology
By: Tyler Monesy | 19/08/2008
Water purification technology has come a long way, but many groups (particularly the environmental ones) think it still has a long way to go.

Fiber Has The Power To Push That Bad Stuff Through
By: Dan Boyle | 19/08/2008
The embarrassing little secret that most women, and men, hold close to them... their quest to improve their regularity. Millions turn to the supplement industry to for relief with no idea that natural relief is easy and many times more beneficial. Would you believe that the common ingredient in these regularity supplements is the same that is used in a lot of the weight loss supplements? Fiber!

More from Roger Wakefield

A Few Cooking Tips for Healthy Meals
By: Roger Wakefield | 23/07/2008 | Desserts
If you want to stay fit and healthy and yet still eat tasty food, then these healthy cooking tips will surely help.

Ten Terrific Superfoods That Will Enhance Your Wellbeing
By: Roger Wakefield | 11/07/2008 | Nutrition
This article explores superfoods and how they can help improve different aspects of our health. It includes a list of 10 widely acclaimed superfoods with the specific benefits.

Maintain a Lifestyle Balance by Efficient Kitchen Techniques
By: Roger Wakefield | 09/07/2008 | Recipes
We all lead busy lives these days and finding the time to cook meals that our familes will enjoy is increasingly difficult. Here we provide a few tips to help get that balance right.

A Few Simple Tips on Cooking With Rice
By: Roger Wakefield | 07/07/2008 | Recipes
Rice is a very versatile food which can be a meal in itself, can be eaten cold as a salad, hot as a pudding or it can be served as a meal accompaniment. If you want to be a great cook it is important to master the basics of cooking rice first. Here we tell you how.

A Few Easy Tips on Getting the Most Out of Eggs
By: Roger Wakefield | 07/07/2008 | Recipes
Eggs are one of natures greatest gifts. They are versatile, nutritious and tasty. If you want to be a great cook it is important to master the basics of cooking eggs first. Here we tell you how,

Killing Weeds in Flowerbeds
By: Roger Wakefield | 03/07/2008 | Gardening
Nothing ruins a flowerbed more than unsightly weeds sprouting amongst your pride and joy. This article tells you how to keep your flowerbeds weed free.

Keeeping a Perfect Lawn, Ten Top Tips
By: Roger Wakefield | 26/06/2008 | Gardening
We all would like a top notch weed-free lawn that we can relax on in the summer months, here are ten top tips to ensure that your lawn is a source of pride and enjoyment for years to come.

Dealing With Weeds on Driveways and Paths
By: Roger Wakefield | 25/06/2008 | Gardening
Weeds don't just grow in flowerbeds, they also force their way into cracks in your driveway and paths. Here are a few tips for keeping them under control.

Article Categories






Give Feedback

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below