Go Mediterranean with the Mediterranean Diet
By June M. Lay, Lifestyle Columnist – HealthNewsDigest.com
May 24, 2009
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Go Mediterranean with the Mediterranean Diet. While we don’t have to eat all the foods all the time, we can eat many of the foods much of the time. Why am I suggesting this? Because research has consistently shown that the eating patterns of the Mediterranean Diet offer major health benefits, but let me add, what a way to get healthy!
Why am I so excited about the Mediterranean way of eating? Well, after I returned from Sicily (the homeland of my grandparents), which is at the heart of the Mediterranean, all I thought about was the allure of the food; the aromas, textures, and unbelievable tastes. Each meal was an event! Since then, I’ve made several changes to my own eating, not just for my health, but for the joy of food. This week, let’s review the merits of the Mediterranean Diet. I am convinced that we can become healthier, maintain our weight and enjoy ourselves at the same time!
Why is this way of eating considered so healthy? Well, first it’s been established scientifically that dietary patterns strongly influence the development of the major risk factors for chronic disease. These diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer affect how well we live. That is, they affect the quality of our life; they affect how we feel physically and emotionally, not just how long we live. When we change our eating patterns and foundation of eating, we do affect how well we live our lives. Let’s consider the research.
