Looking for a nutritious and delicious meal plan that will take the guesswork out of healthy eating? The Mediterranean diet consistently ranks at the top of overall best diets in U.S. News & World Reports’ annual list. That’s because the Mediterranean diet is an inclusive eating pattern chock full of healthy foods, not a restrictive plan. And research backs up its many health benefits — not just for weight loss, but also for brain and heart health.
The Mediterranean diet also tops the list of dietitian’s favorites because it’s full of affordable, accessible foods that are delicious — and that you probably already love to eat. In other words, eating the Mediterranean diet boosts your health and it feels like a pleasure, rather than a chore.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet takes its name from the sea it’s named for and includes foods that are native to the countries bordering the Mediterranean — namely Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Lebanon.
Foods that come from the Mediterranean include many vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. There is little sugar, sodium, highly processed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats and fatty or processed meats. Basically, the Mediterranean diet is effective because it naturally includes nutrient-dense plant-based foods and excludes unhealthy additives.
The Mediterranean diet is both flexible and accessible, making it an easy way to eat a healthy diet. It’s so good for you, in fact that in 1993 the nonprofit group Oldways partnered with the Harvard School of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) to create the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid as a healthier alternative to the USDA food pyramid.
And foods featured in the Mediterranean diet are a pleasure to eat. “It celebrates the enjoyment of food,” Samantha Cassetty, a registered dietitian and weight-loss expert based in New York City and the coauthor of “Sugar Shock,” told…
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