You probably didn’t start your day trekking across a white-washed beach and diving off a rocky cliff into the sparkling azure sea below. However, that shouldn’t stop you from in receiving all the benefits of a true Mediterranean diet.
This diet is based on consuming simple, whole foods as a delicious way to lower cholesterol—without the rules of a traditional diet. Instead, the Mediterranean diet focuses on the eating and lifestyle habits common to those living in parts of Greece, Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain that surround the Mediterranean Sea.
People from the Mediterranean benefit from their diet in many ways, first, they suffer far lower levels of chronic disease, which means they enjoy a highest life expectancy than most other countries in the world. Secondly, they do this by balancing work with leisure and family, they promote regular physical activity, and they consume a healthy diet comprised of mainly fresh fish, lean meat, whole fruits and vegetables, and heart-healthy whole grains and oils.
Here are the 10 things you should know about the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle…
1. Consume Fish in Abundance
Seafood fans will rejoice over a diet that recommends a minimum of 2 to 3 servings of fish each week! The benefits are right there in the filet. It’s a fact that most fish—including fresh salmon, mackerel, herring, blue and albacore tuna, sardines, and even anchovies—is a rich source of omega 3 healthy fats.
