THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MED DIET

The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest ways to eat and is proven to maintain and improve health – but just why is it so good?

The Mediterranean diet has been traditionally followed by countries such as Greece, Italy and others in this region. This way of eating is rich in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds. The diet is most widely known for its generous use of extra virgin olive oil which is the main dietary fat. This diet also involves eating just moderate amounts of fish, poultry, dairy foods and eggs, while red meat is kept to a minimum in the diet. Research shows how this diet may help you to lose weight while also reducing risk factors for diseases such as those of the heart.

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND HEART HEALTH

Research has shown how the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of combined hear t attack, stroke and death from hear t disease by 31%. This type of diet is rich in monounsaturated fats found in olive oil, nuts, and seeds which can help to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol which is a risk factor for hear t disease. The Mediterranean diet is also traditionally low in salt while containing plenty of potassium-rich vegetables and other plant foods which help to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, another risk factor for hear t disease.

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND BRAIN HEALTH

This Mediterranean diet has many brain boosting foods. Fruit and veg contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidant phytonutrients to combat inflammation in the body which may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Folate and vitamin B12 are particularly relevant to brain health as they help to lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that can encourage the narrowing of arteries and memory loss. The Mediterranean diet also encourages intake of oily fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids for brain structure and function.

Don’t forget to add spices as these are a good substitute for salt