Mediterranean Diet Review
Review At A Glance
Free New Mediterranean Diet Profile Here Nicely visualized in the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, this approach recommends a healthy, traditional Mediterranean diet, based on the dietary traditions of Greece, southern Italy, parts of North Africa and the Middle East. It is structured in light of current nutrition research. eDiets' latest offering is modelled on this popular approach and is called the New Mediterranean Diet. For Americans, northern/eastern Europeans and others who want to improve their diets, this model provides a very palatable approach.
How Does It Work?
Diverse Mediterranean cultures have long been known for lower incidence of heart disease. More than half the fat calories in a Mediterranean diet come from monounsaturated fats (mainly from olive oil). Monounsaturated fat doesn't raise blood cholesterol levels the way saturated fat does. People who follow the average Mediterranean diet eat less saturated fat than those who eat the average American diet.
Who Is It Good For?
Designed mainly for adults and especially practical for those with easy access to fresh produce. Also potentially helpful for those at risk for heart disease.
Keys: Mediterranean Diet Pyramid
- Monthly: meat
- Weekly: sweets; eggs; poultry; fish
- Daily: cheese & yogurt; olive oil; fruites; beans, legumes & nuts; vegetables; bread, pasta, rice, couscous, polenta and other whole grains and potatoes; physical activity
Pros
- Olive oil is high in monosaturated fat
- Emphasizes variety of minimally processed, seasonally fresh and (if possible) locally grown foods
- Acknowledges importance of physical activity
- Low to moderate consumption of dairy products
- Sparing use of red meat
- Moderate consumption of wine and increased intake of water
- Fresh fruit encouraged as dessert
- Refines USDA's food pyramid
Cons
