The Mediterranean Diet: What You Should Know!

The Mediterranean Diet: What You Should Know!
(Excerpted from Health News.com)

Your Guide to an International Treasure:

The Mediterranean nations of Italy, Greece, Morocco, and Spain are petitioning to have their staple diet listed as a cultural heritage item by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO is dedicated to fostering dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values.

Citing the tradition, taste, and health benefits of the diet, the four countries are pitching the Mediterranean Diet as an endangered diet; one that is being diluted and changed in regions throughout the world. The UNESCO designation would serve to preserve the integrity and history of the region’s food.

It’s Just the Cure

The Mediterranean diet is high in vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, whole grains, cheese or yogurt and fish. In addition to being heart healthy, the Mediterranean diet has also been shown to lessen the risk of cancer and depression, and ward off cognitive problems associated with aging. For those with newly diagnosed cases of Type II diabetes, this diet may help to delay or even eliminate the need for prescribed medication.
By following a Mediterranean diet, you may gain more than just dietary benefits. Mediterranean-type diets are plentiful in fish, fruit, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil. Now, more health benefits have been added to the growing list associated with the diets that limit dairy, meat, poultry, and saturated fatty acids.

The Last Mystery of Wellness

According to the Mayo Clinic, between one and four percent of Americans suffer from vascular dementia, and the National Institute on Aging projects that between 2.4 million and 4.5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's disease. In addition to the promising results of recent studies on Mediterranean-type diets, other studies have suggested that following this type of diet could end the need of drug therapy for type 2 diabetes patients. New and forthcoming information continues to make clear the direct effects of diet on health. Eating healthy is the key to staying healthy. Visit the Health News diet pages to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to start eating and living healthy.