Are you studying the principals behind a better diet? Mediterranean diet foods are becoming increasingly popular because they are not based on FAD's popular, but rather a model that comes from literally thousands of years of use. The Mediterranean diet is inspired by the traditional diets of the Mediterranean, especially Italy, Greece and Spain. Understanding how the Mediterranean diet differs from the typical American diet can help us in improving our eating habits and enjoy better health through diet pleasant change.



The most notable feature of the Mediterranean diet is high consumption of vegetables and fruit, bread and other cereals, olive oil and fish. Red meat is rare is a source of protein in the Mediterranean diet. Compared with the typical American diet, this may seem almost exotic. Meals fashioned after the Mediterranean diet have a very rich flavor because of the common use of olive oil as the source of fat in preparation compared to the highly processed and margarine, hydrogenated vegetable oils used in the preparation of the American meals. As fat has a higher density than protein and carbohydrate calories, portion sizes also seem to be more modest in comparison with the size of a meal Americans often expect from a restaurant. The result is a nutrient rich diet rich in fiber, with a low glycemic index, which includes a lean protein sources and high quality sources of fat.



Although the Mediterranean diet has been developed over time, since as far back as in the Iliad is a new story, it was "discovered" by an American doctor, Ancel Keys, in 1945. Compared with modern common American dietary practices, the Mediterranean diet seems paradoxical. People who live in the Mediterranean countries tend to consume relatively high amounts of fat, yet they have much lower rates of cardiovascular disease than in countries like the United States.


If we
the sources of fat between the Mediterranean diet and the typical American diet, we can see that the fat sources in the Mediterranean diet are of much higher quality and fat sources, such as extra virgin olive oil also contain an excellent source of anti - oxidants which have been shown to protect the body from the circumstances that lead to cardiovascular disease. Olive oil is also shown to reduce cholesterol in the blood while the animal fat provided by the typical American tends to raise cholesterol levels.



Red wine is also a positive factor in many Mediterranean diet. Rich in flavonoids, potent antioxidants that come from the skins, stems and seeds of grapes are what a red red wine during the fermentation. White wines are top-fermented, without these components and thus lower levels of antioxidants. Regular, moderate consumption of red wine, has significant benefit in cardiovascular health as a result of the regular intake of these antioxidants.



Genetics, lifestyle, environment and may also be involved in the health benefits for the people of the Mediterranean cultures, but in comparison with the typical diet of an American, the Mediterranean diet offers a higher quality source of food to ensure for a benefit in a variety of health factors for nearly everyone with them as their power source.



Dave Saunders is a professional lecturer, and certified nutrition educator. He enjoys making interconnections through his writings and lectures to help others create context and see new discoveries and technologies in a more practical light. You can find more information about new discoveries in the field of health and nutrition at www.glycoboy.com.