The Mediterranean diet is a cultural model for healthy eating and lifestyle habits – a model by which science is now proving that it is possible to find food traditions that don’t compromise taste and sensory appeal while achieving excellent health.
Much research has been done on the eating patterns and lifestyle of some of the Mediterranean regions such as Crete, parts of the rest of Greece
, and Southern Italy, in the 1960’s. Their diet consisted of an abundance of plant food - fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, potatoes and different kinds of beans. They flavored their sauces with some lamb, chicken or turkey, and ate red meat once every week or two. Consumption of meat, poultry and fish (with fish favored) combined averaged approximately 13 ounces a week. They added extra flavor to grains and vegetable dishes with just an ounce or two of meat to get the most they could of what little meat they had. Olive oil was their principal source of fat. Breads and pasta were made from whole grains; dairy products consisted mainly of cheese and yogurt; and desert was mainly fresh fruit, with sweets containing concentrated sugars or honey consumed a few times a week. Wine was consumed in low to moderate amounts, normally with meals. It must also be noted that Mediterranean populations in the 1960’s were highly active – and that this contributed greatly to their healthy lifestyle. During this time their heart disease rates were 90% lower than those measured in the U.S.Research conducted during the last ten years has reshaped the definition of healthy eating. It has become very clear by scientific studies that our health risks today have been greatly increased by poor diet, and a sedentary and stressful lifestyle. The Lyon Heart Study, conducted in France in the 1990’s provided some of the most dramatic evidence of the Mediterranean diet’s beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Other studies have shown that the diet can reduce the risk of cancer and age-related diseases, and that it improves blood fats and blood circulation. The 2003 NEMJ study resulted in the FDA’s announcement that food containing olive oil could carry a qualified claim that consumers may be able to reduce their risk of heart disease “if they consume monounsaturated fat from olive oil and olive-oil containing foods in place of foods high in saturated fat.” Oleic acid and omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, have antiflamatory effects when the acids are metabolized in the body. Red meat has been shown to increase inflammation, and there is mounting evidence that replacing red meat with a combination of fish, poultry, beans and nuts, offers numerous health benefits. It is now believed that inflammation is the precursor to most diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, alzheimer’s, aging, and some cancers - and that many of these diseases/illnesses can be prevented, improved or eliminated if people embraced the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle.
The good news is that you can now embrace a diet that is tasty as well as healthy. Once you become a member you will have access not only to Chef Peppino’s recipes, but access to articles on how to get started on the Mediterranean Diet and how to stay on it, as well as many other helpful articles on different foods and health. We have created a list of the servings you need each day, week and month, and have shown the portions in cups or ounces to make it easier for you. Check out the 3D interactive kitchen - click on the cupboard, refrigerator or freezer or even the TV for viewing cooking videos. Everything is there for you – we even have a Maitre D’ to guide you, giving helpful tips on everything. You can also benefit from the scientific knowledge of Dr. A, who has spent his whole career working to promote safe, wholesome food and is a world-renowned expert in food manufacturing systems.
So, get healthy, stay healthy and go “Mediterranean” for life with Comediterra as your guide!!
Sources:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04051/275270.stm#pyramid
http://www.chd-taskforce.de/2000consensusstatement/index_e.htm
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/121004MediterraneanDietGainsGround.htm
http://www.oldwayspt.org/pyramids/med/med_qa.html