Mediterranean Diet
Mediterranean Diet is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish and grain, but decreased the amount in respect of meat and whole dairy products is beneficial for brain and heart.
A study examined a group of patients who suffer from mild cognitive nature in parallel with a group of healthy people. Five years later, 25% of healthy people in the group have shown signs of cognitive problems, and found that those who followed a Mediterranean Diet had a lower risk of developing that disease. Although further research must be done to confirm these findings, the results are promising.
The study was purely observational, and experts cannot certainly confirm that the Mediterranean Diet can cure neurological diseases.
People who mostly follow the Mediterranean Diet lower their risk of mental decline and they lower this risk even more if they exercise. Studies have also shown that healthy people who follow a Mediterranean Diet live longer than those who eat a more traditional Western diet, higher in saturated fat and meats and lower in fruits and vegetables. New benefits of this diet keep coming out. Eating a Mediterranean Diet also helps Alzheimer’s patients have slower rates of cognitive decline, maintain their daily living skills and have a better quality of life. And those Alzheimer’s patients who get a physical activity get the least Alzheimer’s disease.
In fact, it is not a matter of eating less and exercising more; it is a matter of eating well and staying active.
Mediterranean Lifestyle (video)
However we can say that this Mediterranean Diet is, also beneficial in disorders such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes or other similar diseases. Cholesterol and blood sugar level is lower if you prefer a Mediterranean Diet.
Other benefits would be a reduction of inflammations, which are an important cause of mild cognitive accidents.
Actually Spanish scientists have discovered the real reason why the Mediterranean Diet is so healthy. According to Francisco Perez-Jimenez of the University of Cordoba, in Spain, all the secret lies in olive oil that blocks some genes that cause inflammation in body, reports The Telegraph.
Unlike the typical American diet, the Mediterranean Diet:
- Is very low in red meat and poultry
- Is very high in fruits, nuts, legumes, vegetables, and cereals
- Is high in fish
- Permits low-to-moderate amounts of wine
- Uses olive oil as the main source of fat
- Eat low to moderate amounts of cheese and yogurt daily
- Drink a moderate amount of wine (up to one to two glasses per day for men and up to one glass per day for women)
The Mediterranean Diet is more than a diet. It is a lifelong living style, is the best way to live many years with a high quality of life.
And once again: “Eating Well and Staying Active is the Best”.
