The traditional Greek Mediterranean diet is no less than 60% fruit and vegetables, only 20% meats, 10% carbohydrates, and 10% fats. This diet is rich in natural fiber, vitamins and minerals, with just the essential breads and other starches, and at least one daily dose of olive oil.
There is a proof that the Aegean diet is an extremely healthy choice. This diet includes a lot of olive oil and consuming this has been proven to lower cholesterol levels, especially the “bad” cholesterol LDL levels. This is important to maintaining a healthy heart. LDL is responsible for clogging arteries which can lead to heart attacks and stroke. The traditional Greek diet has been shown to be a great way to protect yourself against heart disease in general. A balanced diet of mostly vegetables and fish, with some fruits, as well as low intake of red meats has been proven to help defend against cardiovascular disease.
The key to the diet is that it includes two separate types of fats, omega-3 fatty acids, and the monounsaturated fats found in olive oil. The omega-3’s come from a variety of fish such as tuna or salmon, as well as some plant sources such as pistachios, walnuts, and some vegetables. These fats are very good for health and the diet puts no restrictions on how much you can consume of them. These fats, specifically olive oil are important for preventing many diseases and have been proven to guard against specific cancers, such as breast and colon cancer.
This diet also puts a lot of emphasis upon eating whole foods that have not been processed. This keeps chemicals and other harmful substances that may be added during processing from building up in your system, and helps to keep you healthy.
There are a wide variety of foods available to be consumed with this diet, so one should not feel restricted or deprived in any way. Following this diet will not only help you to lose weight, but will help you become much healthier in the long run, while protecting you against such potentially fatal diseases like cardiovascular disease and some cancers. This is a diet that is well worth adopting for life.