Things You Didn't Know About Mediterranean Food

With the many benefits brought on by the Mediterranean diet, it’s curious why more people around the world don’t consider adopting this diet for themselves. The interesting thing about Mediterranean cuisine and the people in this region is that their diet was never created for its health benefits, and yet it has caused the people to outlive their European and Middle Eastern neighbors. Mediterranean food indeed provides a wide variety of health benefits that many people around the world may not be aware of, and it helps that the food is just as tasty as it is healthy, too.

One of the many benefits brought on by eating Mediterranean food over time is that it provides a reduced chance of chronic pain long term. The Mediterranean diet consists of healthy ingredients like fish, nuts, and beans, which are proven to reduce chronic pain, particularly in overweight people. When you eat these ingredients consistently, you’ll be taking preventative measures for your future.

Mediterranean food can also lower the risk of heart disease because these foods found in the Mediterranean region are incredibly heart healthy. While there is some meat found in the Mediterranean diet, this diet is low in red meat and sugar, which is good for the heart. People in the Mediterranean region, aka southern Europe and northern Africa, are proven to live longer and have lower numbers for cancer.

As mentioned above, the Mediterranean diet can make you age slower/live longer, and we know this just by looking at the people in the Mediterranean region who live by this diet. People living off the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and northern Africa all have longer life spans because they source their food from around the Mediterranean sea. They live off the land and eat heart healthy foods from the sea and the olive trees in the area. This natural lifestyle keeps them living long and happy lives.

Because Mediterranean food consists of high consumption of olive oil and nuts, studies show that the Mediterranean diet can increase brain power and lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Overall, these foods can increase your energy and your ability to think cognitively. This is a huge incentive to include extra virgin olive oil and healthy nuts, such as almonds (you wouldn't believe the health benefits of walnuts and almonds), into your diet. They contain healthy fats for your body, your heart, and your brain.

Mediterranean food also consists of very simple foods, so it is not a hard diet to follow if you would like to try these foods from anywhere in the world. Some diets may be intimidating to take on because they require complex recipes, but the Mediterranean diet means simplifying your diet and taking things back to the basics. In reality, nuts, fruits, fish, poultry, and vegetables are all you need to adopt the Mediterranean lifestyle.

The Mediterranean diet will improve your mood exponentially because you’ll feel healthier overall. Mediterranean food includes very little carbs, which means you’ll be getting your energy from proteins. You will get leaner and feel energized on this diet, and you’ll also start to feel all of the health benefits mentioned above; so in turn, your mood is going to improve.

Because of how simple the Mediterranean diet is, it is also a very cheap diet to follow. This diet won’t break your bank, and most of the food won’t go bad too quickly, so you can buy things without worrying about going to the store over and over again. Many people decide to go on diets because they want to get healthier, feel better, and lose weight, but then they make the excuse that it’ll be too expensive. Price will not be a good excuse for evading the Mediterranean diet because one trip to the grocery store you will show you how to stay healthy on a budget very easily. Who knows, it may even save you money!

Olive oil is one of the main staples of Mediterranean food. Extra virgin olive oil is the best type of olive oil you can buy and use if you want to try the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is great in moderation, because it provides healthy fats, and these fats are good for your heart as opposed to saturated and trans fats. You can use olive oil in salads, in recipes, on breads, and with your nuts. Try making a salad with olive oil, lemon juice, nuts, grape leaves, and greek yogurt. The mixture of flavors will be uniquely delightful on the palate.

The great thing about the mediterranean diet is that it will aid in weight loss because it is so simple and low in carbohydrates. It is also tasty, so you’ll be able to lose weight without feeling like you’re suffering through a diet. You won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything with this diet, so whether you’re trying to lose weight or you just want to enjoy life more, this is a great diet to adopt to do just that.

Lastly, it’s important to realize that Mediterranean food includes very little meat. Because the Mediterranean diet does source some of its food from the Mediterranean Sea, there is fish in the diet; but hardly any red meat is involved, which is why it is such a healthy diet.

Overall, Mediterranean food provides many benefits for healthy weight loss, long term health, mood, affordability, and simplicity. If you’re looking for a new diet to adopt, this is a great one to consider that will improve your life in many ways. The Mediterranean people are happier for many reasons other than just their location. You can do your best to be as happy as them from anywhere in the world, just by heading to the store!