The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest on Earth. It’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. It can transform your health by reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers while supporting healthy blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
While it’s called the Mediterranean diet, it’s less of a diet and more of a lifestyle choice. In the 1960s, research found that cardiovascular disease was linked to fewer deaths in some Mediterranean countries, such as Greece and Italy, than in the U.S. and northern Europe.
The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional cuisine of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The diet has no definition, but it’s high in fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, olive oil, nuts and seeds, fruits and herbs/spices.
The Mediterranean diet is a plant-based diet that is not centered around meat. It focuses on unprocessed foods and unsaturated fats over trans and saturated fats, which are often found in American diets.
For some meal ideas, try making a delicious Gyro sandwich with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and tzatziki sauce. Another healthy idea is Middle Eastern Chicken Shawarma, featuring thin slices of meat stacked on a vertically rotating spit in front of a fire.
So if you’re trying to eat healthier but don’t necessarily want to go on a restrictive diet, try the Mediterranean diet and turn it into your healthier lifestyle today.
