Mediterranean Diet, a healthy alternate

The Mediterranean Diet is a healthy alternative to eating habits which most Americans are used to. The so-called The Mediterranean Diet, is a cuisine, its a way of life, not a weight loss fad. People in Mediterranean countries enjoy a healthy and balanced diet of fatty fish, vegetables, fruits and cereal. The American Heart Association conducted a recent study to determine the effects this type of diet had on people with coronary diseases. The results of this study prove that the Mediterranean diet can actually  reduce the risk of heart related illness. This is good news for anyone who has tried to stick to a rather bland diet which restricts fats!

A Mediterranean diet includes olive oil, which is high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fats found in dairy products and meat. A moderate amount of wine is also permitted on this diet as it is known to contain properties that are anti carcinogenic and can reduce the onset of premature senile dementure (Alzheimer’s disease), type 2 Diabetes.

The study conducted by the AHA involved groups of participants, all of which had survived previous heart attacks. The participants were put into three different groups. Over the next four years each group were required to adhere to either a Mediterranean diet, a restricted fat diet, or to follow the guidelines that are usually given to patients with heart diseases at the hospital.

The findings of this AHA study revealed that those participants who followed the Mediterranean diet reduced their risk of coronary disease and secondary heart attacks by 30% than the other group. The results of this study have done much to dispel the misconception that all fats are unhealthy, and those foods that were once forbidden, such as fatty fish, olive and nuts are now accepted as part of a healthy diet.

As heart related diseases in Mediterranean countries are uncommon, it is fair to say that a diet that is well balanced and contains the right kind of fats can only be beneficial.

Mediterranean diet, health benefits of the Mediterranean diet 

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