++ There has been evidence for a long time that following the Mediterranean diet can reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Now there is also evidence that it can slow down the development of nerve degeneration and resulting diseases like Alzheimer's.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
This food plan is based on the traditional food components of Greece, southern Italy, and surrounding areas. It focuses of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and only limited amounts of red meat, olive oil instead of butter, limited sweets, lightly processed grain foods and whole grains instead of highly-processed ones, and flavoring foods with herbs, onions, and garlic.
How does it help me?
That's still under investigation, but it appears that the diet's benefits come from that fact that it is high in naturally-occurring anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory substances. It is also higher in fiber than the typical American diet.
Where do I start?
Adopt the concept, even if you don't try the recipes from that part of the world. Try taking your current diet and making some substitutions; such as using more whole grains, locally produced vegetables in season, etc. Explore a little more and dig into your ethnic background to find some of the less-processed foods in your heritage; or explore a country's cuisine that interests you. Ask Grandma for recipes that were popular in the family before there was a fast-food restaurant on every street corner, and frozen "meals" were so readily available. Be adventurous!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment