Famous, thanks to the fact that it proposes a varied meal plan where vegetables, fruits, meat and fish, as well as olive oil, occupy a privileged place, the Mediterranean diet has also been questioned by researchers and nutrition specialists who raise doubts about following this diet as a pattern of healthy nutrition.
So the question is, is the Mediterranean diet healthy? It cannot be answered quickly and it is necessary to analyze more deeply what its followers and detractors claim.
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What is the Mediterranean diet?
As a concept of eating habits, the Mediterranean diet is a cultural heritage that goes beyond a simple nutritional guideline. It is a lifestyle based on certain foods, recipes, cooking methods, and customs from ancient Greece.
Recognized by Unesco, the Mediterranean diet is part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for being a healthy diet compatible with the pleasure of tasting delicious dishes.
Among its beneficial properties for health, the Mediterranean diet is characterized by using olive oil in its preparations, as well as fish and nuts, in addition to including foods such as seasonal vegetables for garnishes and aromatic herbs that give a unique flavour and aroma to your dishes.
Consuming fish, vegetables in abundance and wine in moderation are part of the recommendations of the Mediterranean diet, which also includes advice such as limiting the consumption of processed products, eggs and red meat and having water and water as an excellent drink. Perform physical activity as a premise to stay in shape.
It is a diet that refers to the traditional diet of the countries of the Mediterranean basin, with essential differences in the eating habits of the different areas according to their geographical location, climate, production and traditions. Therefore its generic name is a wide range of options generated by the discussion about whether it is a healthy diet.
Likewise, millions worldwide make the Mediterranean diet to lose weight worldwide since it promises a balanced diet and an excellent option to lose weight healthily, which is also under discussion.
We will next discuss the effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet for losing weight and its health benefits if we first establish whether it is indeed healthy and effective for weight loss.
Is the Mediterranean diet healthy?
Although it is often stated that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest that exists today, it is also necessary to take into account that in the European countries where this type of diet is the main one, the figures indicate that the level of obesity is also high, which makes us reflect on whether it is the best choice in nutritional matters.
The one that the oldest civilizations in the Mediterranean did, to be able to affirm that it was a healthy eating plan, with a consumption of vegetables, large amounts of fruits, meat, and fish cooked on the grill, with the Except that red meat was very scarce in that diet if we talk about the traditional Mediterranean diet.
However, today’s Mediterranean diet has been losing its essence, especially in countries that culturally have this type of healthy cuisine. One of the causes has been globalization installed other less nutritious customs.
Likewise, in recent decades, Mediterranean countries have experienced significant socio-cultural changes that affected eating patterns and significantly compromised their cultural heritage and what the Mediterranean diet once represented as a healthy meal plan.
To all of the above, it is necessary to add the increase in obesity that in recent years has occurred in the child population with dietary trends that cause negative impacts both in the medium and long term on the health of the world population.
Reducing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, vegetables, cereals and legumes and betting on the increase in calories by choosing fats and sugars added to food and the excessive use of salt leads to abandoning traditional eating habits.
Today, betting on a traditional Mediterranean diet should be synonymous with the following:
- Enjoy the nutritional qualities of this eating plan.
- Follow the list of foods suggested by this diet as strictly as possible.
- Bet on reaching a lower obesity rate, especially in children.
- Encourage an active lifestyle.
Many scientifically-based studies show that the traditional Mediterranean diet effectively prevents various diseases and promotes a healthier lifestyle. Among the parameters that deserve to be highlighted is the one that indicates that the Mediterranean diet reduces circulatory problems by up to 60% and heart attacks by 30%.
In short, it is not that the Mediterranean diet is terrible, but it has stopped being done as it was traditionally; one of the reasons is the gradual abandonment of healthy eating habits due to the lack of time to prepare dishes based on the ingredients diet determines.
My name is Ellie Lauderdale, MD and I am USA based professional Nutritionist .
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and board certified specialist in sports dietetics who is trained in integrative medicine. I have worked with hundreds of clients, from those suffering with chronic disease to professional and olympian athletes. My goal is to help optimize you from the inside so that you can feel, perform, and look your best on the outside.