Diet, Mediterranean Style

We've all heard the diets that say if we lower our red meat intake and increase our activity levels it will do wonders for our weight loss program. Well, it's not just a rumor, it is the truth.

In sixteen countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, traditional eating habits have proven that rumor to be true. The people who live in those countries typically live longer than other Europeans. The Mediterranean way of eating is not a specific diet as we know it. It is eating habits that have been passed on through the years. It's now called the 'Sonoma Diet'.

This way of eating includes eating higher amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, potatoes, nuts, beans, breads, seeds, and many other kinds of cereals. It also calls for using olive oil instead of animal fat or synthetic vegetable oils that can cause arterial clogs and heart disease.

High amounts of oily fish that are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fats, poultry, and very little red meat is also key in the Sonoma diet. They eat good amounts of full fat cheeses and yogurt in their diet. Cheese and yogurt that advertise 'fat free' can be unhealthy for your due to the unsaturated fats that they contain.

In the Mediterranean, it is customary for adults to drink moderate amounts of wine in their diet. Wine helps to settle the stomach, making it easier to digest the food that has been introduced. It is recommended in the Sonoma diet that a man should drink one or two glasses of wine with dinner, and a woman should drink one glass as a digestive aid.

People who live in the Mediterranean region rely on locally grown, fresh produce in their diet. When produce is fresh, you can tell simply by looking at it. There is no facade put on by the company selling it, by adding a waxy coating to hide the fact that the produce may be nearly a week to two weeks old. This means that the nutrients in the produce have not been compromised in any way.

You've heard that olive oil is good for your diet and here are the many reasons why that statement is true. Olive oil contains Vitamin E, the vitamin that is good for the elasticity of the skin and keeps skin looking smooth and healthy. Olive oil is also easier on the stomach because it lowers the amount of HCl (hydrochloric acid) and reduces the risk of gallstones and gastric ulcers. If you have an ulcer, olive oil won't irritate it and cause it to act up causing enormous amounts of pain.

By following these simple traditional eating habits, you could out live many of your friends and even your family members. Those who follow this diet have a reduced chance of dying from cancer and heart related problems. The Sonoma diet will keep your arteries clear, your skin looking healthy, and keep you feeling healthy. According to Mediterranean tradition, meals should be a celebration, and with the Sonoma diet, your meals will be a celebration.

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