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Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean meal plan incorporates the traditional healthy living habits of people from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

It includes an abundance of vegetables, legumes, dried beans, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, olive oil, as well as moderate consumption of fish, occasional poultry and minimal red meat. The food is fresh, unprocessed and unrefined. It is also low in saturated and trans fats. And if you’d like, you can include a glass of wine with your dinners.

What Is It?
Just imagine…the basics of healthy eating, a splash of flavorful olive oil and a glass of good red wine as part of your daily diet program. These are all components that make up the tantalizing Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean diet plan follows the traditional cooking and eating style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea which has shown to lower the risk of heart diseases and cancer.

Focusing on small portions of high-quality fresh food and healthy fats keeps your taste buds satisfied and your body feeling fuller for longer periods of time. You lose weight, yet don’t sacrifice the flavors that you love!

Key components of the Mediterranean diet include:

» Eating a generous amount of fruits and vegetables
» Consuming healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
» Eating small portions of nuts
» Drinking red wine, in moderation, for some
» Consuming very little red meat
» Eating fish on a regular basis

Types Of Food
The Mediterranean Diet includes an abundance of vegetables, legumes, dried beans, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, olive oil, as well as moderate consumption of fish, occasional poultry and minimal red meat. The food is fresh, unprocessed and unrefined. It is also low in saturated and trans fats.

Here is a sample menu:

Breakfast: Olive Oil Toast and Yogurt with Blueberries and Almonds
Lunch: Mediterranean Bean Salad with Cheese and Kiwi
Dinner: Lemon Pepper Salmon with Lentil Rice and Spinach Salad
Snack: Apple with Goat Cheese

Exercise
Exercise should be incorporated into your daily/weekly diet program by finding little ways in your daily routine that can make all the difference. Walk instead of taking the bus or driving. Avoid elevators. Find time to go to the gym, swim or take a jog.

Cost
About $5/week through eDiets.

Pros
» Great health benefits that can lower body weight, blood pressure, blood fats, and blood sugar and insulin levels
» Six studies proven to have positive effects of this diet plan
» Can shop at local grocery store of ingredients
» Moderate wine consumtion with this diet program

Cons
» May not be appealing to those who don’t enjoy eating seafood or who have allergies to shellfish
» May not be suitable for dieters on the go and need convenient pre-packaged meals
» May consume too many total fat calories with the allowed oils in the diet

Conclusion
The Mediterranean Diet is filled with a variety of foods and flavors that people bordering the Mediterranean Sea have been enjoying for centuries and living healthier lives because of it. With their secret unveiled, we can now benefit from their way of living and start enjoying a longer life span.

Editor’s Note: This is an overall healthy diet plan for those who like to improve their health and enjoy eating great tasting food. You can get a free diet profile for the Mediterranean diet and get more information. Click here to get a free diet profile.

Common misspellings: Mediteranean Diet, Meditaranean Diet, Meditteranean Diet, Mediterrannean Diet, MediterraneanDiet, Mediterranean Deit, Mediterranion Diet, Mediterraneon Diet