Mediterranean Diet

A Mediterranean Diet is a style of eating based on the Southern Mediterranean region (i.e. Spain, Greece, and Italy).

This kind of diet consists of a lot of vegetables and fruit, salads dressed with olive oil, fish, bread, pasta, and other grains. The diet contains only small amounts of fish and poultry, and red meat is rarely eaten. The diet also contains low to moderate quantities of wine, and some eggs.

Mediterranean Diet - Healthy Eating

A Mediterranean Diet is in line with healthy eating practices. Olive oil is not a magic weight loss solution, but it is the predominant oil of the Southern Mediterranean. Good quality Olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fat.

The Mediterranean Diet is now available online via eDiets. The site offers meal plans, recipes, shopping lists, and much more.

Portion size should be watched carefully if you are aiming for weight loss, particularly with higher calorie foods such as oils. Wine (typically red wine) is consumed as part of a mediterranean diet - a glass a day with a meal is the norm.

Why is it Popular?

The peoples of the Southern Mediterranean area have a lower incidence of heart disease than in the West. This could be attributed to the lower levels of saturated fat in their diet.

See Also

New Mediterranean Diet (Online)
Sonoma Diet (review)