Enjoy The Health Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet
By GalTime .com. Posted on .
By Georgia Orcutt for GalTime
May is National Mediterranean Diet Month and while you may not be able to shop at an open market in Cannes, you can bring the remarkable health benefits and affordable Mediterranean style of eating into your own kitchen.
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Just try these eight easy tips from the food and nutrition non-profit Oldways and its Mediterranean Foods Alliance.
But first, a little background: The Mediterranean Diet is an eating pattern based on the traditional foods of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
It is all about delicious foods, meals with friends and family, and daily exercise.
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Backed by more than half a century of scientific study, is has been validated by The New Dietary Guidelines for Americans as one of the most thoroughly researched models for healthy living.
Now, onto those tips:
1. Eat lots of vegetables. From a simple plate of sliced fresh tomatoes topped with crumbled feta cheese to healthy pizzas, vegetables are vitally important to the fresh tastes of the Mediterranean Diet. Try filling half your plate with them.
2. Change the way you think about meat. If you eat meat, add small strips of sirloin to a vegetable sauté, or garnish a dish of pasta with diced prosciutto. As a main course, eat 3 ounces or less of chicken or lean meat.
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3. Always eat breakfast. Start your day with fiber-rich foods such as fruit and whole grains that can keep you feeling pleasantly full for hours. Layer granola, yogurt, and fruit, or mash half an avocado with a fork and spread it on a slice of whole grain toast.
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4. Eat seafood twice a week. Fish such as tuna, herring, salmon, and sardines are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and shellfish including
mussels, oysters, and clams have similar benefits for brain and heart health.
5. Cook a vegetarian meal one night a week. Build these meals around beans, whole grains, and vegetables, and heighten the flavor with fragrant herbs and spices. Now, try two nights per week.
