Summer is coming and all too often we look for the next quick fix or fad diet to look good in our bathing suits or short sleeves. However, what may work in the short term, is not necessarily what is best for our health for the long term. It’s time to take a look at the Mediterranean diet. This traditional diet has rooted itself over 5,000 years based on regional environment, culture, seasonal foods and local products. Only in the last 50 years has it been the subject of intensive clinical research and gained traction in the health and scientific community as one of the healthiest diets in the world. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recently announced the Mediterranean Diet as the No. 1 Best Overall Diet for the third year in a row.
“The Mediterranean diet has numerous advantages in reducing the ailments that present major health hazards in our society,” says Richard A. Saitta, M.D, Internal and Family Medicine in Naples, Florida and author of Eating Your Way to Health Mediterranean Style. “The Mediterranean diet is very tasty, easy to follow, and is very comforting to the body because of its natural components.”
What is the Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet is based on commonalities found in traditional eating patterns of people who live in the Mediterranean region, particularly bordering the Mediterranean sea. (A close neighbor of two original blue zones areas—Sardinia, Italy and Ikaria, Greece.) It has been found that in addition to an active lifestyle, this diet rich in nutrient dense foods like olive oil, fruits and vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and fish has many health benefits to include:
“The Mediterranean diet is a long-term lifestyle counselor and healer,” said Dr. Saitta. “It is a successful method for shifting people from a high-risk profile for the chronic diseases of modern society to a low risk profile and the end result is a longer and better quality of life.”
There is plenty of reason to celebrate this diet and Mediterranean Diet Month is the perfect time to get started. Here are some ways to get you started in your celebration to better health.
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Plant a garden with fruits and vegetables
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Enjoy a glass of red wine with friends and family
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Share the Mediterranean diet food pyramid with others
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Purchase a Mediterranean diet cookbook and prepare a recipe to share with friends and family
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Use hashtag #MedMonth in social networking
by: Sebastien Saitta, Marketing and PR Director, Blue Zones Project - Southwest Florida
