Have you heard about the Mediterranean diet? It's not just some fancy trend; it's lifestyle and a delicious way of eating that offers numerous benefits to your body.
Today in this blog, we'll keep it simple and break down the basics of the Mediterranean diet, to make you understand why it's so good for you.

What's the Mediterranean diet?

The Mediterranean diet is a diet inspired by the type of lifestyle and food habits of the regions of lands around the Mediterranean sea, which goes from southern Europe such as Spain, Italy, Greece to Middle Eastern countries such as: Turkey, Egypt,...

The Mediterranean diet is not only a healthy eating pattern, but a traditional and balanced lifestyle that has been scientifically proven that helps to improve our health overall and that has a beneficial impact on some diseases, such as: heart disease, like cholesterol, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes II, ...

What common foods are included?

The Mediterranean Diet has a limited consumption of processed foods and foods high in saturated fats and sugar. Instead, it’s focused on fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables, legumes, fish and healthy fats like olive oil and nuts.

Here is the list of the most common foods that are included in the diet following the general food pyramid guideline: 

Eat every day:

• Cereals like pasta, rice, couscous, bulgur,...preferably whole grain to increase the valuable nutrients in the meal.
• Vegetables in every main meal, and at least one of the serving should be raw.
• 2-3 pieces of fresh fruit per day
• Consume dairy products in moderation, such as one yogurt and 1 cup of milk or a piece of cheese, preferably low in fat.
• Consume in moderation healthy fats, like: olive oil, nuts and seeds.

Eat at least twice per week:

• White meats, such as: chicken and turkey
• Fish and seafood
• Eggs and legumes

Eat less often than other foods:

• Red meat and processed meat like: sausages, burgers, cured meat
• Sweets

Remember to stay hydrated by drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day and stay active!

 Image of the Mediterranean Food Pyramid

Several scientific studies have proven that the Mediterranean Diet has a positive effect on our health:

• It reduces the incidence of major cardiovascular events on those who have high cardiovascular risk 
• It has a beneficial effect on our health by increasing life expectancy.
• It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that helps to improve obesity and waist circumference.
• Lower cancer incidence was observed in those who followed the Mediterranean diet. 
• Reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Lower the prevalence and progression of metabolic syndrome.

At GourmetFuel we have a large variety of meals that would suit the Mediterranean diet and a set Mediterranean meal plan that could help you to achieve your health goals. 

So, get ready to explore the flavors and benefits of the Mediterranean diet, and learn how you can make it a part of your daily life. Let's dive in and discover the magic of good food and good health!

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