The Mediterranean Diet - What Is It, Really?

The Mediterranean Diet - What Is It, Really?<br /> <br /> <img height="314" src="http://www.leanitup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/xu8_Mediterranean-diet-002.jpg.pagespeed.ic_.SdrMId5Xuu.jpg" width="400" /><br /> <br /> One of the most popular, yet often misunderstood diet plans on the market today is the Mediterranean Diet.  While everyone reading this can safely assume that the Mediterranean Diet is, in fact, derived from the style of eating implemented by the people of that particular region, there are many specifics that are simply not known.<br /> <br /> I have heard this diet being compared to the South Beach Diet on numerous occasions, and this is certainly a fair comparison.  It is an eating plan which is primarily made up of lean meats and fresh vegetables, but again, the specifics of the Mediterranean Diet are really what set it apart from the rest.<br /> <br /> For example, red meats, eggs, and dairy are very seldom used on this eating plan.  Individuals residing in the countries and territories surrounding the Mediterranean most often consume fish as their source of animal protein.  Another key distinction is the fact that this animal protein is one of the last priorities on the diet.<br /> <br /> In fact, fresh vegetables and fruits rule the land!  Olive oil and whole grains take second place, followed by wild fish and small amounts of red wine.<br /> <br /> The key is healthy fats, primarily Omega-3 fatty acid, which is absolutely wonderful for raising the good cholesterol while lowering the bad.  And because this high level of unsaturated fat is super clean burning, it actually trains your body to use fat as fuel... including your much hated body fat!<br /> <br /> One reason so many people have turned to the Mediterranean Diet as their weight loss plan of choice is the incredible health-enhancing benefits they believe it to include.  Common sense will tell you that these people are not off-base in this belief.  In fact, when is the last time you heard that a diet high in fruits and vegetables, keen on whole grains and Omega fatty acids, and rich in antioxidants was bad for you?  Most likely, never.<br /> <br /> The antioxidant properties of this diet have been shown to be beneficial in combatting heart disease (hello, the number one killer in the Western World!) and certain forms of cancer (not too far behind)... this is a diet that anyone who values their health, and not just quick weight loss, can get behind.<br /> <br /> Not only is this eating plan safe, effective, healthy, and logical... but it's not weird!  What do I mean?  The ingredients are very basic and are available in any grocery store.  This provides a kind of convenience that many diet plans can't seem to provide.<br /> <br /> Since I first heard of the Mediterranean Diet (maybe 10 years ago), I have yet to hear one bad word uttered against it.  It's practically the poster child for what common sense would tell you is a healthy, responsible diet.  Crisp, fresh produce, unaltered grains, fresh wild fish, and lots of healthy cold-pressed olive oil.  Hey, is anyone else getting hungry?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Diet Mediterranean The Mediterranean Diet - What Is It, Really?

The Mediterranean Diet - What Is It, Really? One of the most popular, yet often misunderstood diet plans on the market today is the Medi...

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Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan

<div class="by" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: none; position: relative;"> <h2 style="color: #54585a; font-size: 26px; line-height: 31px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"> Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan</h2> <span style="display: block; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 24px;">The heart-healthy Mediterranean is a healthy eating plan based on typical foods and recipes of Mediterranean-style cooking. Here's how to adopt the Mediterranean diet.</span></div> <div class="by" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: none; position: relative;"> <img height="265" src="http://cf.ltkcdn.net/diet/images/std/77262-400x265-Healthy_Eating_Plans.jpg" width="400" /></div> <div class="auto" style="color: #111111; float: right; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-left: 24px; outline: none; position: relative; width: 222px;"> </div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> If you're looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean diet might be right for you. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating — plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps even a glass of red wine — among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.</div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> Most healthy diets include fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, and limit unhealthy fats. While these parts of a healthy diet remain tried-and-true, subtle variations or differences in proportions of certain foods may make a difference in your risk of heart disease.</div> <div class="auto-mobile" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; outline: none; position: relative;"> </div> <h3 style="color: #54585a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"> Benefits of the Mediterranean diet</h3> <div class="auto" style="color: #111111; float: right; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-left: 24px; outline: none; position: relative; width: 222px;"> </div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> Research has shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease. In fact, an analysis of more than 1.5 million healthy adults demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of death from heart disease and cancer, as well as a reduced incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.</div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends the Mediterranean diet as an eating plan that can help promote health and prevent disease. And the Mediterranean diet is one your whole family can follow for good health.</div> <div class="contentimg s6" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(227, 227, 224); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 468px;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.mayoclinic.org/~/media/kcms/gbs/patient%20consumer/images/2014/01/07/09/58/mcdc6_pyramid_mediterranean.ashx" style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px;" /></div> <div class="auto-mobile" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; outline: none; position: relative;"> </div> <h3 style="color: #54585a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"> Key components of the Mediterranean diet</h3> <div class="auto" style="color: #111111; float: right; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-left: 24px; outline: none; position: relative; width: 222px;"> </div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> The Mediterranean diet emphasizes:</div> <ul style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 12px 24px; padding: 0px;"> <li style="margin-bottom: 6px;">Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 6px;">Replacing butter with healthy fats, such as olive oil</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 6px;">Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 6px;">Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 6px;">Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week</li> <li style="margin-bottom: 6px;">Drinking red wine in moderation (optional)</li> </ul> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> The diet also recognizes the importance of being physically active, and enjoying meals with family and friends.</div> <div class="auto-mobile" style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; outline: none; position: relative;"> </div> <h3 style="color: #54585a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"> Focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains</h3> <div class="auto" style="color: #111111; float: right; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-left: 24px; outline: none; position: relative; width: 222px;"> </div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> The Mediterranean diet traditionally includes fruits, vegetables and grains. For example, residents of Greece average six or more servings a day of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.</div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> Grains in the Mediterranean region are typically whole grain and usually contain very few unhealthy trans fats, and bread is an important part of the diet. However, throughout the Mediterranean region, bread is eaten plain or dipped in olive oil — not eaten with butter or margarine, which contains saturated or trans fats.</div> <div style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 12px;"> Nuts are another part of a healthy Mediterranean diet. Nuts are high in fat, but most of the fat is healthy. Because nuts are high in calories, they should not be eaten in large amounts — generally no more than a handful a day. For the best nutrition, avoid candied or honey-roasted and heavily salted nuts.</div>

Diet Mediterranean Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan

Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan The heart-healthy Mediterranean is a healthy eating plan based on typical foods and recip...

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Dr. Oz's Mediterranean Diet Shopping List

<h2 style="background-color: #fff7e4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px; width: 460px;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Oswald, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 46.79999923706055px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Dr. Oz's Mediterranean Diet Shopping List</span></span></h2> <div> <img height="426" src="http://s.doctoroz.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/720x480/media/image_thumb/Anti-Aging-Tomatoes-MEDIA-720_1.jpg" style="color: #684e1c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" width="640" /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Dr. Oz has told you how the Mediterranean Diet is both healthy and delicious, but financial expert Farnoosh Torabi reveals that it can also save you over $1,000 a year on grocery bills! </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Making easy swaps like using frozen veggies or buying nuts in bulk can allow you to eat nutritous and healthy foods without breaking the bank. <a href="http://s.doctoroz.com/sites/default/files/dm_uploads/MedDietList_0.pdf" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Print this shopping list</a> and start the Mediterranean Diet today.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://www.doctoroz.com/search?q1=mediterranean" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Learn more about the Mediterranean Diet. </a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <img class="mceItem" src="http://s.doctoroz.com/sites/default/files/im_uploads/MedDietList.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div> </div>

Diet Mediterranean Dr. Oz's Mediterranean Diet Shopping List

Dr. Oz's Mediterranean Diet Shopping List Dr. Oz has told you how the Mediterranean Diet is both healthy and delicious, but fina...

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