Choosing Heart-Healthy Options with the Mediterranean Diet

There are many diets out there you can choose from, but for many the Mediterranean diet will be one of the best choices. This is a very healthy diet that can help those with heart issues, high cholesterol, or other health problems. It is an eating plan that will help you discover how to create great tasting meals that are also very good for your heart.

This may be the only diet that includes drinking a glass of red wine, but that has been proven to be very good for your heart. The Mediterranean diet is based around the typical cooking styles of the countries on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. They love to use olive oil in their cooking, so you can expect to get plenty of good meals made with the health benefits of olive oil.

When you are trying to diet because of the risk of heart disease, it is not as good to use a traditional diet. Even though the same parts, like eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, and whole grains are the same, the Mediterranean Diet helps you take it one step further by giving you the right proportions of the right foods for your heart.

Many studies have been done and they have proven that the traditional Mediterranean Diet will help to reduce the risk of heart disease. This type of diet has also been linked to reduction in cancer, and a reduction in the incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. It is all about good foods cooked in the right ways to keep your heart healthy.

What Does the Mediterranean Diet Emphasize?

There are many things included within the Mediterranean Diet and you need to be aware of what you are getting into. The key components, just like any other diet, are proper eating habits and exercise. In fact, the Mediterranean Diet puts a strong emphasis on getting plenty of exercise each week because this makes a huge difference in heart health.

The Mediterranean Diet also includes eating mainly plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. This does not mean you are a vegetarian on this dies, but you will not be eating as much meat as you may be used to. This diet only calls for eating red meat a few times a month and fish and poultry at least twice a week.

You will also be replacing butter with healthy fats like canola oil and olive oil with this diet. This will help to give your body the fat it needs, but only in the right forms instead of in the bad fats like butter contains. Another big part of the Mediterranean Diet is using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor your foods.

There is one last component to the Mediterranean Diet and it is the best one of all. It is, of course, optional, but a very large part of the culture of this area of the world and one that many people love. You are supposed to drink red wine in moderation when on the Mediterranean Diet because it is proven a glass of wine with dinner is good for your heart and your body.

Another important part of the diet is enjoying meals with your family and your friends. This is a tradition in the Mediterranean culture and it goes along with the diet. Every component is added because it gives the body the necessary nutrients and it is also very healthy for the heart. This is one of the best diets for anybody with a history of heart disease or high cholesterol.

What I Think About the Mediterranean Diet

Whether you are looking for a healthier way to live and eat or you are looking for a diet to help you lose weight, the Mediterranean Diet is a good choice. You are not going to drop 20 pounds in a month with this diet, but it will help you get to a very healthy weight and maintain it. This is not just a diet you start and finish, but also a way of changing the way you eat every single day for the rest of your life.

It is nice to find a diet that does not completely cut out the things you may enjoy. You can still have red meat, just not that often and you are even encouraged to drink wine with this diet. Most diets do not allow any alcohol and will cut out many of the things you really need. With the Mediterranean Diet, you can have confidence in knowing that you are eating in a hearth healthy way that support the body completely.