When it comes to healthy meal plans, the Mediterranean diet is renowned for being one of the healthiest, promoting guaranteed health benefits in addition to its great flavour pallet.
According to Maya Feller, a CLC of Maya Feller Nutrition, “The Mediterranean diet is often referred to as the gold standard of diets because of health outcomes associated with following this eating pattern”. Gabrielle Lyon, a cognition and nutrition physician parallels her arguments encouraging those who adopt the diet to think of it as more of a lifestyle.
The diet itself became more popular during the 1960’s when research determined a clear correlation between the traditional diet in Crete and the health status of its citizens, particularly concerning cardiovascular disease Fuller explained. Today, this diet is in fact recommended as, “a healthy way to eat for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and to promote general health,” stated MS, RD, CDN, Sammi Haber, from Nutrition Worlds NY.
Fuller explains that this healthy traditional cuisine focuses on whole and fresh ingredients minimizing sugars and red meats compared to other diets. In agreement, Steven Grundry, a heart surgeon and nutrition pioneer stated, “the overriding idea to following a Mediterranean diet is the use of fresh produce, lots of olive oil, seafood, and the use of cereal grains and beans to deliver fresh herbs and olive oil.”
An Italian chef named Silvia Barban, born in the Norther region of the country, describes the basic pyramid structure of the Mediterranean diet in which, “Desserts, red meat, and eggs are only eaten once weekly”. She also notes that alcohol intake is limited to a glass a day usually whilst enjoying a meal.
There are many health benefits associated with the diet, including the ability to reverse damage caused by years of unhealthy eating. This cuisine has shown to posses both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as studies showing results of decreased risks in cancers and cardiovascular disease.
Another favourable benefit of the diet is that it facilitates weight loss. Steven Gundry pointed out that when adopting the Mediterranean diet, “many people see their weight lower, their high blood pressure resolve, and their diabetes reverse”. It also has shown to lower cholesterol levels, particularly bad cholesterol.
However, despite being a great solution for those suffering from the effects of unhealthy processed foods, this diet is also boost energy levels. Enjoying a variety of whole foods, fiber, as well as healthy fats, this diet will keep you feeling full for longer, and prevent energy crashes throughout the day.