The Mediterranean Diet - Oh So Tasty

Yes, there is more to the Mediterranean than sun, beach and wine... there is the Mediterranean Diet...

For many years now the inhabitants of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea - (such as southern Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon and Israel) have been considered to be among the healthiest in the world enjoying both high life expectancy plus showing health benefits like low incidence of chronic diseases and in recent years many studies have been made to discover why and if it has to do with more than just the sunshine!

Traditionally, their diet has been based on the livestock, fishing and agriculture of their land and reliance on foods from a rich diversity of plant sources including fruits, whole grains, nuts, beans and seeds. In Northern Africa for example, couscous, vegetables and legumes form the centre of the diet, in the Eastern Mediterranean, bulgar and rice along with vegetables and legumes and in Southern Europe, the basis is formed by rice, polenta, pasta with plenty of vegetables and legumes and everywhere bread is eaten at most meals (but without butter!).

Nutritional research has shown the advantages of a diet HIGH in vegetables, fruits, grains, monounsaturated fats and various complex carbohydrates but LOW in cholesterol and certain forms of saturated fat and led to greater public awareness.

It is true that these foods, like those foods consumed by the rest of Europe and the United States are rich in fat, BUT... of a different type!

Let me explain this: There are three types of dietary fats:

? Saturated fats, (from animals)
? Polyunsaturated fats (from plants, seeds, nuts and vegetables)
? mono saturated fats (olive oil). Olive oil isn't only delicious (and somewhat expensive) but it's also rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E and K as well as iron.

The health and therapeutic benefits of olive oil are vast: namely?

? it does not have the same cholesterol raising effects as the saturated fats found in animal fats
? it contains anti-oxidants that discourage clogging of the arteries and chronic diseases including cancer
? and it also has lubricating properties in so far as it acts as a laxative, aids digestion and protects the intestine from ulcers.

Now, this "Mediterranean diet" - (though not exactly a diet in the ?slimmers? sense of the word), has led to a style of eating that is a move away from relying on manufactured food stuffs to recipes consisting of natural and healthy ingredients eaten raw or minimally processed.

So WHAT typically comprises "The Mediterranean Diet?"

When, in 1993, The Harvard University School of Public Health and Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust (a Boston based educational organisation) held a conference on the Mediterranean diet and its influence on public health, reviewing data concerned with the dietary traditions of those countries bordering the Mediterranean, the committee developed the "Mediterranean Food Guide Pyramid", the main points of which are summarised as follows:

? plenty of food from plant sources, including fruit, vegetables, breads and grains, beans, nuts and seeds
? use of Olive Oil replacing other fats and oils
? fresh fruit daily
? Seasonally fresh and locally grown foods in preference to processed foods
? Saturated fat should constitute less than 20 per cent of total calories
? small amounts of cheese and yoghurt (containing live cultures which may contribute to good health)
? daily moderate amounts of fish and poultry weekly and only a few eggs
? very little red meat
? a glass of wine (especially red) with meals as it contains anti-oxidants and has cholesterol reducing properties (although optional as there are contraindications for women related to breast cancer)

Natalia Kim is a journalist for http://www.beginning-exercise-and-weight-loss-help.com

housekeepers near Buffalo Grove ..
In The News:

Analysts at Silent Push have uncovered a widespread scam that uses counterfeit retail websites to steal the credit card information of online shoppers.
Chrome users need to update their browsers immediately as Google addresses a critical vulnerability that hackers are actively exploiting. Additional security measures are recommended.
A study found teens glance at phones for dangerous two-second intervals while driving, using devices primarily for entertainment, texting and navigation despite crash risks.
Security researchers uncovered a flaw in Windows 11 that allows attackers to disable Secure Boot using Microsoft-signed tools, requiring manual updates to protect against bootkits.
Carnegie Mellon's noninvasive brain technology allows users to move robotic fingers by thinking about the motion, offering new possibilities for people with motor impairments.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts. Instead of relying only on a password, MFA requires you to verify your identity using two or more methods.
Scientists from Duke, Harvard, and the University of Otago have unveiled a game-changing tool called DunedinPACNI. It uses a single AI brain scan to reveal how fast a person is biologically aging.
A disturbing wave of fake agent phone scams is sweeping across the United States, catching people off guard and draining their savings.
Emojis aren't just playful add-ons; they're powerful tools for building stronger connections in our increasingly digital world.
Google has taken a major step toward the future of clean energy by partnering with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an MIT spin-out working to build one of the world’s first commercial fusion reactors.
If you create and share art online, you might have seen messages warning that Facebook's parent company, Meta, claims the right to use or even sell anything you post, whether it's pictures, poems, or artwork.
Cybercriminals hit Qantas in a major data breach that exposed information from up to six million customers.
Having reliable, loud, and timely emergency alerts on your phone or device is important because when severe weather strikes, every second counts.
Here's how your daily brew is becoming the foundation for greener buildings.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are transforming how we learn. But what does this mean for AI and learning retention?
Modern AI data centers use much more electricity than traditional cloud servers. In many cases, the existing power grid cannot keep up. One innovative solution is gaining traction: repurposed EV batteries for AI data centers.
Microsoft 365 and Outlook users are being targeted by a tactic that injects fake billing alerts directly into their calendars.
Researchers are now showing us that old smartphones as data centers could be the next big thing in sustainable tech.
Scientists have created micro-robots for sinus infection treatment that can enter the nasal cavity, eliminate bacteria directly at the source, and exit without harming surrounding tissue.
Let's examine how your data is collected in everyday life, who is buying and selling it, what happens to it afterward, and, most importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. developed small robots called "Pipebots" that can travel inside water pipes to find and potentially repair leaks, all without any excavation.
A groundbreaking new study has uncovered disturbing AI blackmail behavior that many people are unaware of yet.
Four teams of autonomous humanoid robots competed in China's first AI soccer tournament, demonstrating advanced capabilities in ball detection and independent decision-making.
The ID. Buzz autonomous van features self-driving technology with 13 cameras, nine LiDAR units and five radars after Volkswagen partnered with Hamburg and Uber for 2026 deployments.
Social Security phishing scams use urgency and impersonation to steal personal data. Learn how to spot fake SSA emails and implement 10 protective measures.

Of Super Mice and Supermen- and the Magic Apples of Avalon

Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat... Read More

Good Food/Bad Food Whats Left to Eat?

We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More

Natural Weight Loss: Little Spice in Your Life?

Not everyone can handle hot food. But who said cayenne... Read More

Atkins Diet ? Simple Advice

Just like any other diet, the Atkins diet can become... Read More

Why You Must Eat Before Going to Bed?

You have probably heard the old myth, that you should... Read More

Reasons for Obesity

Causes of ObesityJust like there is no weight loss pill... Read More

Heading Off Winter Weight Gain Before it Gets Started

Must We Gain Weight Every WinterIt's that time of year... Read More

BMI: Between Meal Intrigue Hits the Highway

If you've been pursuing a lighter, healthier version of yourself,... Read More

Diet Scams : How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off

Have you ever received those tempting ads that seem to... Read More

Why Friends Sabotage Your Diet at Parties

How to Say No When You Don't Want the FoodA... Read More

A Look at Bariatric Surgery Patients

Individuals who are interested in bariatric surgery need to be... Read More

Diet & Weight Loss Tips: How To Stop Eating Junk Food By Finding Your Craving Hour

Even if you're not overweight, you still could have a... Read More

Move, Move, Move for Greater Weight Loss

The loss of fat comes from fat cells all over... Read More

Sale Offers, Ephedra, and Weight Loss... Are You A TARGET?

Today, Ephedra is an herb of controversy. It contains ephedrine,... Read More

Lose Weight with One Simple Mindset

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases today. One... Read More

Seven Reasons to Choose Hoodia Part 5

Good health is an invaluable bliss and you cannot simply... Read More

Heres A Diet That Wont Work

How's this for a diet: Take in fewer calories than... Read More

Dieting? Want and Desire are Dangerous

This is a very important topic that needs to be... Read More

Dieting? You Must Reset Your Weight-o-stat

You need to reset your weight-o-stat. No matter how much... Read More

Weight Loss Programs and Pills: Is Your Weight Loss Program Safe and Effective?

In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More

Motivation and Dieting - Whats the Missing Link?

If you are like everyone else who has hit rock... Read More

QuickTips for Healthy Weight Loss

More than any other time in history, people are all... Read More

Weigh Loss and your Self Image ? Are You Worthy to Feel Better?

Maybe you losing weight comes down to the simple question,... Read More

Cellulite: Do We Have To Lump It?

What is cellulite? Ask a doctor and he will probably... Read More

Why Did Your Diet Fail You? Or Did You Fail Your Diet?

Are you someone who has, in the past, been on... Read More

custom home cleaning Mundelein ..