The Mediterranean Diet: Health Benefits

I've read The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook yesterday. Author writes about health benefits of the mediterranean diet:

antioxidants - powerful scavengers of free radicals; free radicals are chemical substances that travel around in the body and cause damage to body cells

carotenoids – found in red, orange, and yellow plant leaves, fruits, and flowers; they may protect the body against damage from light and oxygen

monounsaturated fats - may delay or reduce development of cancers of the breast, colon, and skin

phytochemicals - substances produced in plants to protect them against viruses, bacteria, and fungi

These are thought to promote the longer lives and lower incidence of chronic diseases found in
this region.

[More information about mediterranean diet (PDF)]

All About Mediterranean Diet

The Traditional Healthy Mediterranean Diet is based on the healthy eating and lifestyle habits of the folks living in southern Italy, the Greek island of Crete, and other areas of Greece. Oxygen.com reviews the Mediterranean Diet and writes, «Researchers believe that the diet and lifestyle of the region was the secret to good health. The typical fat intake ranged from less than 25 percent of their daily calories to over 35 percent -- but much of it came from heart-healthy olive oil. The diet boasted a low amount of artery-clogging saturated fat, coming in at no more than 8 percent of their total calories daily.»

The traditional Mediterranean diet features an abundance of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts and cereals and regular use of olive oil (monounsaturated fats), moderate amounts of fish and dairy products (mostly yogurt or cheese), small amounts of red meat (low intake of saturated fats) and moderate consumption of alcohol, usually in the form of wine and consumed at meals.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece analyzed the diets of more than 22,000 participants enrolled in the Greek component of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) between 1994 and 1999.  “The results are clear; a Mediterranean diet featuring olive oil, vegetables, fish, fruits and low in saturated fats and enjoyed for many years by the people of that region, is healthy and promotes longevity,” said Dimitrios Trichopoulos, senior author of the study and the Vincent L. Gregory Professor of Cancer Prevention in the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. “The magnitude of the reduction in mortality underscores the longevity advantage that adult Mediterranean populations have experienced for centuries.” (read more about study at Harvard School of Public Health site). 

Benefits that Mediterranean diet gives for women

You may know that for the last fifty years women became concerned with various diets more than ever before. In fact, they wish to reach two main goals – be healthy and look good. However, many women find it rather difficult to choose right diet from hundreds of known today. They want to know how a particular diet will affect their appearance and health. For instance, many women are attracted to world famous Mediterranean Diet that promotes good health, so let’s focus on six major benefits of this diet and learn some facts about its affect on health and appearance and reasons of its popularity. And though this article is intended for women, the majority of its ideas concern men’s health and beauty too.