| Mediterranean Diet |
Published
03/4/2006
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Low Fat , High Fiber
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Rating: 
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In the diet rat race, it’s hard to please all of the people all of the time. There’s always some expert who can find something “wrong” with whatever diet happens to be on top. However, one plan that has managed to get by unscathed is the renowned Mediterranean Diet that has received laurels from doctors, nutritionists and researchers alike over the last few years. The Mediterranean Diet is hardly a new concept, having been around for more than 1,000 years. Studies show that people who follow the healthy eating plan live longer and have a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. A recent study also showed that people suffering from metabolic syndrome who followed the Mediterranean Diet lost more weight than their counterparts on a low-fat diet. Another group of dieters lost the same amount of pounds as subjects on a low-fat diet. However, those following the Mediterranean Diet maintained their loss more effectively. There are at least 16 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea that have a diet made up of similar characteristics. While the specific diet may vary from country to country, the basic principles are the same. Consume large amounts of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds. Use olive oil as a source of monounsaturated fat. Eat dairy, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts. Intake of red meat and eggs should be limited. Wine should be consumed in low to moderate amounts. The antioxidants and essential fats found in these foods contribute to better health.
The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid is vastly different from the USDA pyramid. Meat is to be eaten on a monthly basis. Sweets, eggs, poultry and fish should be eaten on a weekly basis. Cheese and yogurt, olive oil, fruits, beans, nuts, legumes, vegetables, bread, pasta, rice and other whole grains should be enjoyed on a daily basis. On the bottom tier, there is a place for daily physical activity. This is a key factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By eating foods rich in flavor and healthy fats and exercising on a regular basis, you’ll reap the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. Eat, drink & be thin on the Mediterranean Diet!  
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User Reviews
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Comment #1
(Posted by Josh Blanton)
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I disagree with this article completely.
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Comment #2
(Posted by Helen)
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This review was certainly informative. I've heard the name Mediterranean Diet before, but I never understood how it works until now. I can't understand how this diet could get by "unscathed" and has received laurels from doctors, nutritionists, and researchers over the last few years. It does not state, however, the country of origin of these qualified people. Perhaps they primarily come from Europe, where the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid is not so foreign as it is here.
I would like to read a great deal more about this diet before I'd give it my blessing. So far, its only redeeming quality is that it promotes olive oil and yogurt. Meat is a protein builder, and it is nearly impossible to have a healthy body if one eats meat only monthly, unless "meat" means only beef. Fish is a protein, as are eggs and poultry. I haven't eaten beef (i.e. meat?) in 16 years, as I eat only poultry, and I've never been healthier.
I find it troublesome that the diet recommends beans, legumes, bread, pasta, rice, and grains on a daily basis. These are the most difficult things for the human body to digest, and eating a large amount of these promotes severe allergens. I have a gluten intolerance that will allow me to eat NO STARCHY vegetables or grains. I am allowed only one slice or two of sprouted grain nongluten bread ONLY per day. This means no potatoes, corn, peas, etc.
It was good to hear that the Mediterranean Diet promotes yogurt. Clearly, there is no more perfect food for the human digestive tract, especially if nontraditional milk sources, such as goat milk, sheep milk, etc. are used, instead of cow's milk. Adding fruit and nuts to the yogurt makes an unbelievably delicious meal or snack.
I question the amount of "daily physical activity". Does this include anything you do not sitting down? It seems too vague as is, yet the next paragraph mentions exercising on a regular basis. What form of exercising is recommended and for how long?
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Comment #3
(Posted by James M. Kacey)
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My blood type Is AB, and my wife type O.. I would like to know how I could receive a plan/ type of foods/ and portion sizes In The Mediterranean Diet Plan/ Exercise Plan... Also I do not make payments on - line, by credit cards.. I can pay by check / and credit , to a printed address... been ripped off 3 times. James M. Kacey
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Comment #4
(Posted by evelyn)
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good info. but still hard to follow in this day and age.
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Comment #5
(Posted by Alex)
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Well, that's all very interesting, but I've stayed in the Med, particularly in Greece. I think they would disagree with "large amounts" of anything, particularly by Northern American standards. I think a variety of dishes in "moderate" amounts would be a much more accurate description of the philosophy there!
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Comment #6
(Posted by sahm0502)
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Having been on many diets in my life, this one is closest to what I do now. I have cut out meat, seafood, and poultry, except eggs. I eat light/low fat dairy products and try to substitute soy as much as my budget allows. I also prefer the taste of organic foods when I can fit them into my budget. My body retaliated at first. I craved sugar, fatty foods, and binged at times. My body had aches and pains as I began exercising 3 days a week at least 30 minutes per day. But now that has gone away and I am feeling better. The only thing I have left to concur is the gastrointestinal stuff like gasiness and irritable bowel when I eat gassy foods. It is hard to be patient as your body detoxifies slowly, but it is worth it. This diet is very smart, it just needs some tweeking! sahm0502
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Comment #7
(Posted by owen carter)
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splendid
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Comment #8
(Posted by vrrose)
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I am a 43 yr old woman and I find it hard to use any type of diet plan. The body requires many minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, fiber and the list goes on. Just as the body has unique needs, there are unique elements that help find balance. The countless diet programs available today ignore the specific needs that women/men have. Plans based on a "miracle pill", calorie counting, or resticting certain food groups ignore the core issues of weight gain. They forget that wieght gain is a function of overall health. And they don't address the unique psychological and physioligic needs of mid-aged women/men. Weight loss is only one peice of a very complex puzzle that includes hormone balance, heart health, mood swings, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, stress, anxiety and energy levels to name just a few. Any program that will successfully help mid-aged women/men loss weight and maintain, must address these key issues: Cravings, Plateaus, and Maintenance. Thank God for TTP40.
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Comment #9
(Posted by vrrose)
Rating
I am a 43 yr old woman and I find it hard to use any type of diet plan. The body requires many minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, fiber and the list goes on. Just as the body has unique needs, there are unique elements that help find balance. The countless diet programs available today ignore the specific needs that women/men have. Plans based on a "miracle pill", calorie counting, or resticting certain food groups ignore the core issues of weight gain. They forget that wieght gain is a function of overall health. And they don't address the unique psychological and physioligic needs of mid-aged women/men. Weight loss is only one peice of a very complex puzzle that includes hormone balance, heart health, mood swings, sleep disturbances, hot flashes, stress, anxiety and energy levels to name just a few. Any program that will successfully help mid-aged women/men loss weight and maintain, must address these key issues: Cravings, Plateaus, and Maintenance. Thank God for TTP40.
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