Benefits of Mediterranean Diet
Benefits of Mediterranean Diet
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Benefits of Mediterranean Diet
Mediterranean diet is considered as one of the healthiest diets that can prevent heart diseases, diabetes, stroke and even cancer. People who adopt this type of diet since their childhood have less chance to develop high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and so on. They tend to live longer than other people. According to medical experts, it is because the Mediterranean diet is highly rich in omega-3 fatty acids. It consists mainly of fish, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grain. Because of that, the Mediterranean diet is abundant in monounsaturated fats that have shown as beneficial for our heart health, bone health, healthy vision, strong immune system, etc. Monounsaturated fats are also good for reducing inflammation and oxidative stress that contributes to many serious health conditions. They can decrease the symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis, ADHD, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. There are many studies that have confirmed the positive effects of the Mediterranean diet in people who live in southern areas. Scientists have also noticed the effects of this diet in people who do not live in certain areas, but practice the Mediterranean lifestyle that includes a lot of fish, olive oil, cereals, leafy greens, nuts and whole grains. This diet has a reasonable amount of red meat, dairy, and processed food. Therefore, it contains a few animal fats. To find out more about the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the article “Adopt a Mediterranean Diet Now for Better Health Later” gives us the following explanation.
Why would your menu in middle age protect your health later in life? “Several mechanisms may be involved, including lowering inflammation and oxidative stress, both systemically and within the central nervous system. These are two general pathways underlying many age-related chronic diseases and health conditions, such as age-related brain diseases and mental health. Other potential mechanisms include notably improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity,” explains lead author Cécilia Samieri, a researcher at Université Bordeaux in France, who conducted the study while a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School.
Additionally, people who are on the Mediterranean diet drink wine, which is full of flavonoids that have antioxidative properties. However, even though wine is rich in flavonoids, medical experts recommend drinking it in moderate quantities, i.e., one glass for women and two for men a day. Benefits of Mediterranean diet do not show its beneficial effects only on people who consume it since childhood. Experts have conducted studies that prove strong positive influence on people who have begun with this great diet later in life.
