Saturday, July 18, 2009

Why Go Mediterranean?

Recently, there's been a lot of information about Mediterranean dietary patterns. People often have questions as to how the Mediterranean diet program works. The reason the Mediterranean diet is becoming so popular is because of the 16 nations on the Mediterranean coastline, there is a notably lower incidence of chronic disease and a much higher life expectancy.

A traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern calls for as much as 40% of all total daily calories to be consumed from fat. This may seem like a contradiction because fat is commonly said to contribute to cardiovascular disease. However, on a Mediterranean diet plan, the fat consumed is monosaturated fats. Monosaturated fats, like those found in olive oil, do not contain the same cholesterol-raising components as saturated fats found when eating the standard American diet.
On the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is noted as an excellent source of antioxidants. Also, the regular consumption of fish is said to promote an increase of omega-3 fatty acids in the bloodstream. This is important because most societies in the world do not consume enough omega-3.
Also noted on the Mediterranean eating pattern, the sparing use of red meat has been proven to increase health. Instead, grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and monosaturated fats take the place of the consumption of red meat. As most Americans have been told, the mass consumption of red meat, at least in the quantities consumed by the U.S. population, is known to cause an increased instance of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
It's often difficult to define and understand the true nature of the Mediterranean diet. The reason for the difficulty is because there are so many countries on the Mediterranean basin. Each of these countries recognizes and regularly embraces a variety of dietary habits. However, it is also noted that regardless of the differentiation between each of these nations, there remains an increased level of health and the promotion of longevity simply by eating a diet of a Mediterranean style.


Saturday, July 4, 2009

Look Better, Feel Better, Weigh Less!

You’ve heard it said a million times that diets don’t work, and that statement is entirely true – BUT your diet does play a major role in your ability and the rate at which you lose weight. For example, starving yourself on some fad diet will provide you with temporary weight loss, but the second you eat normal food again, you blow up like a balloon and end up larger than you were when you started. However, if you make your diet a lifestyle eating plan instead of some crazy fad, your chances of success increase exponentially.

To do this, your diet needs to be not only nutritious, but delicious as well. Who wants to eat food they hate day in and day out? Nobody we know. Which is why we thought it pertinent to bring you the good news:

Believe it or not, experts and researchers at Harvard University have recently proven that a diet rich in salmon, vegetables, olive oils, natural yogurts, and heart-healthy red wine will shrink the waistline four times faster than any traditional low-carb or low-fat diet plan. This type of diet is commonly known as the Mediterranean diet.

Mediterranean style meals lower the intake of ingredients that science has specifically linked with the development of abdominal fat. Some of these foods include red meat, refined carbohydrates, soda (even diet soda), fried foods, and the intake of trans fats.
Eating on the Mediterranean plan insures that you have hunger control, you reduce current and stop the production of future belly fat, you lose inches all over thanks to an increase in your metabolic ability, and you don’t suffer the repercussions of pipe dream promises. What’s better than that, your overall health will improve dramatically!

According to
Mediterranean Diet experts, the meal plan is consists of a tasty combination of Mediterranean dishes and fat-burning, belly-flattening phytochemicals. Of course, as with any lifestyle change, a moderate amount of exercise is desirable. If you can manage to walk 20 minutes a day, you’ll see dramatic results in no time!
You should also make it a point to consult your physician before embarking on this or any new diet and exercise program. In this case, we can almost guarantee your doctor will approve!