The Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean area is known for its healthy and varied cuisine. So it consists mainly from fresh foods such as fish, fruit and vegetables. Mostly it renounces even animal fats and prefer to herbal alternatives such as olive oil, due largely been the principle describes the Mediterranean diet.

The Mediterranean diet is divided as follows: It consists to 55% from carbohydrates, in which case mainly on bread and pasta - the energy for the whole day refers to the fats - preferred course of vegetable suppliers such as olives, nuts or oily fish, which represent 30%. The last 20% are composed of protein products such as meat, fish or eggs.

That this diet is relatively possesses many advantages, many studies have already demonstrated. The carbohydrate diet provides much energy from comparatively little fat or sugar. The digestion is indicated by the many dietary fibers in bread and vegetables are to be found, optimally promoted. The body can be as existing reserves for better energy use - instead of these annoying fat pads to save.


Besides the vitamins and minerals, obtained by the many fresh fruits and vegetables to take, it leads the body also secondary plant substances with antioxidant properties, which by the metabolic set free radicals bind. The so-called good fats, like olive oil as well as one of oily fish such as salmon called are rich in unsaturated omega-3-fatty acids, which protect the cardiovascular system. The oil also has a reputed blood-cleansing effect.

By the low consumption of meat and eggs, the cholesterol levels are not unnecessarily driven to new heights and it thus avoids the resulting frequent cardiovascular diseases. The group also diabetic type 2 comes to the Mediterranean diet good that their blood lipid levels and blood glucose influenced in a positive sense.

The Mediterranean diet can also reduce the weight long term, because the food is very rich of carbohydrate and low fat. However make sure that when you choose the carbohydrate rich foods such as bread or pasta, that you preferably take whole grain products.

As with all other diets, you must also make sure that a certain number does not exceed calories. But as you are eating much more fresh fruit and vegetables, it seems not be a problem with the 1200 calories. It is also recommended to make some sports and drink minimum 2 liters of water.

You should enjoy your meal in a good company like the people in the Mediterranean area, because they not only eat slower but at the same time conscious, leading to a faster saturation, and thus it takes less to yourself.

Another advantage of the Mediterranean diet is that it is not entirely on alcohol must renounce. A nice glass of red wine completes not only the food, but works in small sizes even cholesterol-lowering.

The Mediterranean diet is thought to reduce your risk of heart disease. In fact, a 2007 study conducted in the United States found that both men and women who consumed a Mediterranean diet lowered their risk of death from both heart disease and cancer.