Mediterranean Diet: What Is It and What Are Its Benefits?

By Kyran Arif for Nonna Lina restaurant. 25 July 2022

The picture we have in our minds regarding diet plans is not very colourful, right? Bland-tasting porridges, leafy salads, herbal tea, no meat, and whatnot! It feels like you have bound to a lot of restrictions, which is why most people find it challenging to adopt the lifestyle. The Mediterranean diet plan’s beauty is that it makes you healthy while filling your plate with equally nutritious and delicious ingredients. 

Want to learn more about the Mediterranean diet and its benefits? Read on! 

What Is Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean diet is a traditional food staple of people living around the Mediterranean Sea, such as in Italy, Spain, and Greece. The whole plan revolves around consuming many vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and a balanced protein intake to get the best health benefits. 

The most classic example to look up to for the Mediterranean diet is an Island called Sardinia in Italy. Although there are no hard and fast rules to follow this diet, Centenarians’ (people who lived a hundred or more years) healthy lifestyle in Sardinia has encouraged the world to follow their lifestyle. 

The important Sardinian meals include garden veggies, whole grain bread, fruits, and Mastic oil. Sardinians also consume Pecorino cheese that is high in Omega 3 fatty acids made up from grass-fed sheep. They live the longest, and people who were facing terrible health issues were able to recover dramatically following the Sardinian diet. 

What Are The Benefits Of The Mediterranean Diet? 

The benefits of the Mediterranean diet are endless. Let’s have a look at the most significant ones. 

  1. Reduce The Risk Of Heart Diseases 

The pace at which heart diseases are increasing in the world is alarming. Even people in their 20s are reported for heart attacks frequently. In all this distress, the Mediterranean diet works like a miracle for people suffering from acute cardiovascular diseases. 

It promotes your heart’s health and reduces the rate of strokes and heart failures by controlling the patient’s blood pressure and lowering plaque accumulation in arteries.

  1. Improves Cognition And Prevents Neurological Disorders 

Several studies state that the Sardinian diet protects against cognitive decline, especially in older people, and fosters brain health. Moreover, the diet can also lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, dementia, brain tumors, epilepsy, and seizures. 

In addition to the protection, it significantly enhances your memory, cognitive functions, mindfulness, and much more. 

  1. Promote Weight Loss 

Since the Sardinian diet encourages eating all the healthy, nutrient-rich, low-fat meals, it helps reduce unhealthy fat and makes you physically fit and internally healthy. 

Physical well-being automatically keeps your blood pressure in control and reduces the likelihood of many diseases while boosting your mental well-being. 

  1. Support Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

The nutrient-rich ingredients in the Mediterranean diet tend to balance your blood sugar levels and provide ultimate protection against type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it decreases insulin resistance and prevents serious health problems like kidney diseases, heart diseases, and vision loss.

Bottom Line 

We hope that this mini-read has been helpful for you in understanding the importance of the Mediterranean diet. Sardinia in Italy is best known for Centenarians, and the Mediterranean diet is the primary secret behind their long life span and amazing well-being. There is no specific Mediterranean diet plan; however, all the food staples involved are nutrient-rich and low in fat. 

Make sure you avoid unhealthy food as much as possible to enjoy the full benefits of the diet. 

Wish you excellent health and well-being 🙂

Copyright Nonna Lina restaurant 2022