The Mediterranean Diet Myth

Most of us know that the Mediterranean diet is reportedly healthy for the heart. In addition, a growing amount of research suggests that this diet can help prevent diabetes too a major risk factor for heart disease. Arguably, there is much positive to be said for the Mediterranean diet. Some of the main benefits of this diet are as follows: lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, food that is minimally processed, very little sugar, and a focus on olive and fish oils. This diet is definitely far superior to the standard American diet which focuses mostly on meat, sugar, unhealthy fats, and refined grains.

The Mediterranean diet, however, is not necessarily appropriate or healthy for everyone. Before discussing this further, let's be clear about which region of the Mediterranean we are referring to since the Mediterranean region is so vast and varied in terms of food culture and preferences. For this article, we are referring to the traditional diet and lifestyle of the people living on the Greek island of Crete. These people were the healthiest and longest lived people of the Mediterranean region when the research was done.

So what is potentially wrong with the Mediterranean diet? First of all, the Mediterranean diet focuses too much on whole grains for some people particularly people who need to manage their blood sugar levels or for people who are struggling to lose weight. Whole grains are extremely good for you but in moderation because whole grains raise blood sugar levels more than other foods do. As a result, eating too many whole grains can also contribute to weight gain. For long-term health, it is important to prevent spikes in blood sugar levels.

Another area of concern with regard to this diet is the amount of fish that is eaten. Normally, eating fish would be a good thing because of the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids; however, our fish are now toxic due to our polluted waterways. If you do plan to eat fish, choose wild, fatty fish varieties like wild Alaskan salmon. Sardines are another good fish choice because they are high in omega-3's and low in toxins.

Dairy products which are eaten in moderation by people on Crete aren't appropriate for everyone. Roughly 75% of the world and 25% of the US population can't digest dairy products, so for many of us we need to get our calcium from other food products like collard greens, kale, black-eyed peas, firm tofu made with calcium sulfate, and almonds.

Just because the Mediterranean diet claims that you should drink red wine doesn't mean this is what you should do. Wine is not healthy due to the alcohol it contains. Even as much as 1 alcoholic drink per day or less may increase breast cancer risk. In addition, alcohol consumption has been linked to many other health issues. Get your antioxidants from red grapes instead.

Finally, variety is the spice of life. There are healthy foods in other cultures as well like the cuisines of India, Mexico, and Japan to name only a few. You don't want to miss out on other taste sensations and healthy foods because you are sticking too closely to one particular dietary approach.

The lesson to be learned here is that no one should be blindly jumping on the band wagon each time a diet is touted to be the answer to our health issues and concerns. The most important thing for all of us to do is to focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible. Eat a lot of variety. Eat out less in restaurants. Buy fewer prepared foods in the grocery store than you do today. Shop at the local farmer's market. Eat organic when possible and pay attention to your own body and how it responds to the foods that you are eating.

In addition, the traditional Mediterranean lifestyle shouldn't be overlooked as one of the key reasons why the people of this region are so healthy. Although the traditional Mediterranean lifestyle is fast disappearing, it was very common for people to enjoy their meals with friends and family in a relaxed manner. Many people's livelihoods required physical labor and walking so they were getting much more movement on a regular basis than many of us do today. The pace of life was slower, and there was a lot less stress. Don't underestimate the power of lifestyle in terms of maintaining your health for years to come. Food alone won't keep you healthy.

Sandra is a Heart-Healthy Food Coach and owner of Simply Living Healthy. She received her nutrition and coaching training from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC.

Struggling to lower your cholesterol? Receive a free audio recording "Top 3 Secrets to Reduce Your Cholesterol Fast without Drugs or Drastic Dieting" by visiting cutcholesterolnow.com cutcholesterolnow.com.