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Type of Diet:
Balanced, heart healthy
Foods You Eat on this Diet
Variety of whole foods, similar to the diet of people
who live in the Mediterranean - mostly Greece, Crete, Southern Italy.
Foods include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood small amounts of
poultry, and limited red meat and dairy products. The fat source is
mostly olive oil or monounsaturated fat.
General Facts:
This diet is based on research that showed that a
Mediterranean style of eating lowers cholesterol and reduce risk of
heart disease and that Mediterranean people have reduced risk of heart
disease.
Can you keep it off on this type of diet?
If this diet is followed along with proper portion
control and exercise, it should lead to
healthy weight control.
Positives:
A good variety of healthy foods associated with reduced
risk of heart disease. Does not require special diet foods or
supplements, and foods and recipes are easy to find.
Drawbacks:
Diet is just one aspect of the Mediterranean
lifestyle and may not be the sole cause of reduced heart risk. Still,
this is a very healthy way to eat.
Cost 
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Safety and Health Issues
This is a well balanced, safe diet to follow and
people have thrived on it for centuries.
Diet Surf Recommendations
Highly recommended.
Dietitians comments about the Mediterranean Diet
Translating the Mediterranean diet for Americans
can be a little tricky. Food portions need to be controlled, and even
good fats like olive oil are high in calories. Mediterranean
restaurants still serve portions that are too large for anyone on a
weight loss diet. Get some professional help (preferably a
dietitian's) and some lower fat, lower
calorie Mediterranean cookbooks if you want to eat a Mediterranean
diet and want to lose weight at the same time!
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