Losing Weight With the Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet has received a lot of media attention in recent years, owing to many celebrities' successes at losing weight on the diet. Based on the diets of people who live around the Mediterranean Sea, the diet places a high emphasis on being active, eating smaller portions, and enjoying the food you eat. Generally, eating red meat is kept to a minimum; protein sources of the diet include chicken, fish, cheese, and small amounts of eggs. Saturated fat is to be kept at a minimum.

The Mediterranean Diet is usually thought of as a "slow food" diet; emphasis is placed on cooking food at home rather than eating out at restaurants. Fast food is usually much too high in saturated fat to fit into the diet. With its emphasis on eating smaller amounts of healthy foods, the diet can help you lose weight quickly while still enjoying the food that you eat.

In addition to helping you lose weight, the diet also provides you with numerous health benefits. Olive oil and red wine are important parts of the Mediterranean Diet, and both are known to provide excellent health benefits. Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats, which have been shown to raise levels of HDL cholesterol - the good form of cholesterol - and lower levels of LDL cholesterol - the bad cholesterol. Conversely, saturated fat has the opposite effect, and will greatly raise levels of LDL cholesterol.

Since the Mediterranean Diet is very low in saturated fat (the only real source being cheese) and very high in monounsaturated fat, it's considered very beneficial for heart health. Red wine is also beneficial for your cardiovascular system when consumed in moderate amounts, which is recommended by the diet. This is thought to be because of the high antioxidant content of grapes, which are also found in the wine produced from the grapes; antioxidants are known to protect your heart, your brain, and can prevent many types of cancer.

The diet places more emphasis on plant-based foods, such as whole grains and vegetables which contain large amounts of fiber. Fiber aids your digestive system and can help reduce your cholesterol levels, which also aids your cardiovascular health. Foods that are high in fiber are also usually quite low in calories while providing you with a feeling of fullness, which allows you to eat less calories while not going hungry, making the diet great for weight loss. Ultimately, the Mediterranean Diet is also a great choice for people who have a family history of heart disease, as it can greatly benefit your cardiovascular system.

The Mediterranean Diet is a healthy and sustainable diet that allows you to eat great-tasting food. It provides an emphasis on creating and enjoying the food that you eat, rather than mindlessly gorging yourself on fast food without regard to what you are eating. The diet helps to change your eating habits which leads to you successfully losing weight and keeping it off. There are many cookbooks available which have recipes tailored to the diet; you may find purchasing and using them useful.

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