New Delhi: The Mediterranean diet is both tasty and nourishing because it is full of flavourful ingredients like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats. It’s also linked to a number of benefits, including those that may support cognitive function, advance heart health, control blood sugar levels, and more.
A typical Mediterranean diet includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, bread and other grains, potatoes, beans, nuts, and seeds; olive oil as the main source of fat; and low to moderate quantities of dairy products, eggs, seafood, and poultry. In this cuisine, fish and poultry are more prevalent than red meat. Low to moderate amounts of wine can be consumed, typically with meals. As opposed to desserts, fruit is frequently served.
What is Mediterranean Diet:
The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional food items that people used to eat in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, including France, Spain, Greece, and Italy. It was noted by the researchers that these people were exceptionally healthy and had a low risk of many chronic conditions.
Additionally, numerous studies have now shown that the Mediterranean diet can promote weight loss and help prevent heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and premature death.
Health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet:
Listed below are some of the potential health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet:
1. Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease: The Mediterranean diet places a focus on healthy fats like those in olive oil and nuts and discourages the consumption of processed foods, saturated fats, and trans fats, which may explain why people who follow the diet have a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Improved brain function: The Mediterranean diet has been linked to better cognitive function and a reduced risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease as one gets older.
3. Reduced risk of certain cancers: According to studies, eating a Mediterranean-style diet may help reduce the chance of developing certain cancers, such as breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer.
4. Better weight management: The high fibre content of the Mediterranean diet can help you feel fuller for extended periods of time and consume fewer calories overall. This can lead to better weight management and lower rates of obesity.
5. Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes: The Mediterranean diet’s focus on whole, unprocessed foods and avoidance of refined sugars and carbohydrates have both been shown to help lower the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
6. Improved gut health: A range of whole, plant-based foods found in the Mediterranean diet are high in fibre and prebiotics, which can aid in promoting a balanced gut microbiome and reducing inflammation.
