Mediterranean Diet

What Is The Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean Diet is not much different than our dietary recommendations. However on the Mediterranean Diet, they don't follow them exactly. In general, the weight control diets of Mediterranean people contain a relatively high percentage of calories from fat. Like a low carb diet the focus remains on protein.

The Good Fat Found In The Mediterranean Diet

People who follow the Mediterranean diet eat less saturated fat than those who follow a typical American weight loss diet. In fact, their saturated fat consumption is well within our dietary guidelines of a healthy diet.

More than half the fat calories in a Mediterranean Diet come from monounsaturated fats (mainly from olive oil). Monounsaturated fat doesn't raise blood cholesterol levels the way saturated fat does. In America there is saturated fat in almost everything eaten. American dieters are obsessed with the latest diet food, health product or low fat alternatives, but they usually don't consider the amount of saturated fat they are consuming. The Mediterranean Diet focuses on hearty meals that fill you up for the long run.

The less saturated fat you allow in your diet, the better. So, whether you follow the Mediterranean Diet by the book or not, you should adapt some of their methods of cooking, limiting your intake of highly saturated foods and tons of white bread.

Why The Mediterranean Diet Can Be Healthy

The heart disease rate in Mediterranean countries is lower than in the United States. Death rates are lower, too. But this may not be entirely due to the diet. Lifestyle factors (such as more physical activity and extended social support systems) may also play a part. However, Americans are often attracted to quick fix diets like the Cabbage Soup Diet or the Watermelon Diet that provide temporary rapid weight loss. The Mediterranean Diet includes vegetables, fruits, meats and leafy greens. The Mediterranean Diet came about because of all the fresh food available in Mediterranean countries. The Mediterranean Diet celebrates a variety of food and unlike in the American culture, they understand the importance of portion control and they fill up on fresh food instead of tons of processed and sugary food.

The key to the Mediterranean Diet is to appreciate fresh food. Not only is it filling, it is also healthier for you in the long run. For an American, the Mediterranean Diet may require a different approach then they are used to, but it is definitely one of the few high profile diets that show potential and balance.