Mediterranean Diet Goes Online

The Mediterranean Diet has always been popular. It’s a diet that is styled after the eating habits of the Southern Mediterranean region. Weight loss super-site eDiets have just created an entire Mediterranean plan and added it to their extensive selection of diets.

Some of the benefits of a Mediterranean-type diet—rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and olive oil and light on red meat—may stem from the diet’s effect on inflammation, new research suggests.

In a study from Greece, markers of inflammation and blood clotting that are related to heart disease were lowest in people who adhered most closely to the traditional Mediterranean diet.

This marks a further departure from including “brand-name” diets - and instead focusing on providing excellent all-round eating plans.

What are the basics of a Mediterranean Diet?

Cut down on red meat and processed foods.
Increase healthy fats (olive oil, fish, nuts, etc.)
Health improvement - lower heart disease and cholesterol.

In 1993, the Harvard Medical School released the results of research that studied the diets of those countries bordering on the Mediterranean. Their findings suggested that fat and carbohydrates were NOT the main culprit in obesity and heart disease, but rather that the RIGHT fats and carbohydrates should be the base for a healthy diet. The study pointed to low rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease throughout the region as proof of their contention.

It’s worth noting that starchy carbs are on the menu as well as red wine. In fact, the red wine seems to be a major advertising/selling point for the new plan.

Sample Meal Plan

Yogurt with fruit and nuts
Pasta salad and fruit
Salmon with roast vegetables
Crackers and hummus

Exactly what is the Mediterranean diet and can it help you lose weight? There actually is no ‘Mediterranean’ diet - it’s a compilation of the way that people in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea eat. Despite the differences in actual specifics, all of those studied based their diets on the same proportions of food groups and calories, and all included olive oil as their main source of fat.

The Mediterranean Diet is not something new (more like very old). Amazon lists about 144 books that relate in some way to mediterranean eating practices.

The good thing about this diet is that food is to be enjoyed! However in order to be a weight loss diet there must always be some form of caloric restriction.

Print Version
Tell-a-Friend