While there are numerous diet fads out there, the Mediterranean Diet is one diet that may show lasting health benefits and one that many people can follow.
Food in the Mediterranean Diet
The main concentration in this diet is on fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, peas, unrefined grains, olive oil and fish. Food with saturated fats such as meats and dairy products are limited.
While there are numerous diet fads out there, the Mediterranean Diet is one diet that may show lasting health benefits and one that many people can follow.
Extend Your Life
A study looking at women found that those follow this diet have longer telomeres. Telomeres are buffers that are part of our chromosomes protecting our genetic information and shorten as people age. Shorter telomeres are associated with aging, shorter life, atherosclerosis, and other diseases.
While there are numerous diet fads out there, the Mediterranean Diet is one diet that may show lasting health benefits and one that many people can follow.
The Benefits of the Food You Eat
Greater adherence to this diet is significantly associated with longer telomeres. Scientific findings support that people following this type of diet may reduce overall mortality, greater longevity, lesser illnesses, especially cardiovascular diseases. (1)
While there are numerous diet fads out there, the Mediterranean Diet is one diet that may show lasting health benefits and one that many people can follow.
Diabetes and the Mediterranean Diet
A study divided participants into three eating groups, including: a low fat diet group; Mediterranean diet and olive oil group; and a Mediterranean diet and nuts group. Follow-up four years later with these groups groups showed the incidence of type 2 diabetes was 10.1% percent in the Mediterranean diet and olive oil group; 11% in the Mediterranean diet and nuts group; and 17.9% in the low fat group. (2)
While there are numerous diet fads out there, the Mediterranean Diet is one diet that may show lasting health benefits and one that many people can follow.
Worth a Try
You can follow a healthier diet by increasing healthy plant fats such as olive oil and nuts and decreasing saturated and trans fats. And by increasing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans, you may be helping to protect yourself from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. By making some small diet changes like these mentioned here, you can make great changes in your health.  1, 2