Everyone is asking, why is the Mediterranean diet so different to the numerous amounts of other diets out there? Well! The Mediterranean diet is beneficial in a number of different ways; by looking at the distinctive dietary sections of the Mediterranean food pyramid we can see that there dietary habits are different to the average British ones by helping to lower the risk of heart disease by 30%. (Mary E. Barasi. 2007)
There are many aspects of the Mediterranean diet, which lead us to believe that it has beneficial factors, this is due to the lower consumption of processed/ready-made meals, relying on the freshly grown produce around them and using olive oil as the main principle fat, replacing butter and margarine. The high intake of oil in the Mediterranean diet which comes from capers, olives and oily fish is beneficial to the diet as oil is a natural food source which has a high level of mono-saturated fat, oleic acid- this has a reduced risk of coronary heart disease due to the omega 3 fatty acids which lowers triglyceride levels in the body, this is a beneficial process as it lowers the risk of heart disease as the excess fatty molecules aren’t stored as fat in the body. Omega 3 fatty acids/oils contain antioxidants which improve cholesterol level; The Mediterranean diet is beneficial to people suffering with high cholesterol as the high oil intake acts as an anti- inflammatory and has hypertensive effects- by lowering the cholesterol level it gives the person suffering with high cholesterol a lower chance of suffering a heart attack or possibly a stroke. (NHS choices 2013)
We all know people like a sprinkle of salt here and there, but do you know that sometimes a small intake of natural salts is beneficial for you? The Mediterranean diet is based around a high intake of salt from the oily fish, olives, anchovies, capers and salt fish called Roe. The small amount of salt from the natural sources means that no extra salt is added therefore is adequate, also acting as a blood pressure and acid-base diet.
By switching to a largely plant based diet with fruit and vegetables, the Mediterranean people have managed to keep a well-balanced diet, high in fibre, vitamins and minerals with nuts which are Obtained from the island itself, nuts contain potassium which reduce the blood pressure as it promotes the process called natriuresis, this is the process which allows unwanted sodium to be lost in the diet through going to the toilet, by eating the right amount of potassium it’s beneficial as it helps cardiovascular health allowing the heart to run smoothly without running the risk of a heart attack. A high fibre diet is necessary also and the
Mediterranean diet offers this, by keeping a high fibre diet by consuming nuts, fruit and oats the bowel is kept healthy and disease free. (Mayo Clinic 2013).
As you can see, the Mediterranean diet is beneficial to health; they use the natural sources around them to get all the necessary dietary needs. By following their way of life we would live a healthier lifestyle, where natural sources are used and to create a place where ready-made meals are a thing of the past.
Truth About Food 